USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
The Company) provides various technology resources to its employees,
customers and contractors, including e-mail, voice mail and Internet access,
to facilitate the effective communication of business-related data. Although
these resources promise faster and better communications, they also raise
significant issues concerning the accuracy, security and control of company
information. Individuals who use company resources must do so in a manner
that is appropriate and professional.
POLICY SCOPE
This policy applies to all Company employees and all other persons who are
authorized to use Company technology resources (collectively, users). This
policy applies to all technology resources and all data created, entered,
received, stored or transmitted by their use, including but not limited to:
computers (including desktop and portable computers, servers, networks,
printers, software and storage media), e-mail: voice mail; and Internet use
(collectively, technology resources).
PROPER USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Other than occasional personal use of email and Internet access, Company
provided technology resources may be used only for legitimate
business-related communications. Occasional personal use means infrequent,
incidental use that is professional, in good taste and does not interfere
with Company business, the performance of the user's duties or the
availability of technology resources. All use of Company technology
resources is subject to this policy.
THE COMPANY OWNS ALL DATA
All data created, entered, received, stored or transmitted via Company
technology resources are Company property. The Company has a perpetual,
royalty-free, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use,
reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, distribute and incorporate all such data.
Business-related data may not be used for any purpose unrelated to Company
business. Nor may it be sold, transmitted, conveyed or communicated in any
way to anyone outside of the Company without senior management's express
authorization.
NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY
Users have no expectation of privacy in connection with the use of Company
technology resources, including the creation, entry, receipt, storage or
transmission of data.
MONITORING
As with all other Company property. Company technology resources and all
data created, entered, received, stored or transmitted via those resources
are subject to access, search, monitoring, inspection, review, and
disclosure for any reason, at any time and without advance notice by persons
designated by or acting at the direction of the general manager or technical
services director, or as may be required by law or as necessary for (or
incidental to) auditing, security and investigative activities, and to
ensure effective technology resource administration and compliance with this
policy. For example, authorized persons may inspect Company technology
resources and data to investigate theft, the disclosure of proprietary
information, misuse, and to assess productivity and Internet use. The
Company is sensitive to employee concerns and will attempt to ensure that
such inspections are conducted professionally. In this regard, no employee
(including supervisors, managers, or department heads) may access, search,
monitor, inspect, review or disclose any data without the authorization of
the Company's technical services director and/or the human resources
director.
HARASSMENT PROHIBITED
Users are absolutely forbidden from using the Company's technology resources
in any way that may be construed to violate the Company's harassment-free
workplace policy or Equal Employment Opportunity policy. This prohibition
includes sexually explicit or offensive images, messages, cartoons, jokes,
ethnic or religious slurs, racial epithets or any other statement or image
that might be construed as harassment or disparagement on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or any other status
protected by law. Users are required to take all reasonable steps to avoid,
eliminate and cease transmission or receipt of any potentially offensive
material; claiming to be a passive recipient of offensive material is
unacceptable. Prohibited conduct includes sending e-mail messages to someone
who has requested that the user not do so.
UNLAWFUL USE PROHIBITED
Company technology resources may not be used to intentionally or
unintentionally violate any local, state, federal or international civil or
criminal law. including copyright and patent laws and U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations. Unlawful activity includes, but is not
limited to. lotteries, raffles, gambling for anything of value and
participating or facilitating in the distribution of unlawful materials.
Users likewise may not upload, post, e-mail or otherwise transmit any data
that is harmful, threatening, abusive, malicious, tortious, defamatory,
libelous, vulgar, obscene, or invasive of another's privacy. In addition,
Company technology resources may not be used to job-search outside of the
Company or solicit outside business ventures.
VIOLATION OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS PROHIBITED
Company technology resources may not be. used to violate proprietary rights,
including copyright, trademark, trade secrets, right of publicity or any
other intellectual property rights. For example, unless approved by the
technical services director, users may not post or download any data
(including software) protected by copyright or patent law.
DIGITAL IMAGING POLICY
Taking or transmitting digital images in the workplace using digital
cameras, home cameras or video recorders for purposes other than
Post-Bulletin Company, L.L.C. business is strictly prohibited. Violation of
this policy can result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate
discharge.
DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PROHIBITED
Users may not leak, place, post, transmit or otherwise disclose
confidential, sensitive and/or proprietary Company information to anyone
outside of the Company by any means, at any time or for any reason.
USE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROHIBITED
The Company's name, trademarks, service marks, logos or other intellectual
property may not be used outside the scope of a user's assigned employment
duties without senior management's express authorization.
PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS REQUIRE APPROVAL
Users may not make any public representation about or on behalf of the
Company without the approval of the department head. Included in this
prohibition are representations made in advertisements, Internet home pages,
electronic bulletin board postings, chat rooms, email messages, and voice
mail messages. Message content must not in any way embarrass or compromise
the Company's public image, revenues, products. services, employees,
customers or business partners.
UPLOAD OF DATA PROHIBITED
Users may not upload data from existing systems to the Internet without
management approval.
DOWNLOAD OF SOFTWARE PROHIBITED
Only staff from technical services or internet services may load software,
so that the Company may conduct accurate audits (and respond to external
audits).
PASSWORDS AND SECURITY
All passwords and security used in connection with Company technology
resources are Company property and must be made available to the Company.
Users must understand that their use of passwords does not preclude access,
search, monitoring, inspection, review, and disclosure by authorized Company
personnel. The Company also may unilaterally assign and/or change passwords
and personal codes.
VIRUSES
Users may not upload, post, e-mail or otherwise transmit any material that
contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs
designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer
software, hardware or telecommunications equipment.
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS PROHIBITED
Unauthorized access of email, data, and use and/or disclosure of other
users' passwords is strictly prohibited. For example, unauthorized use of
other users' passwords is prohibited, as is obtaining access to other users'
files or communications for no business purpose, e.g., to satisfy idle
curiosity.
MISREPRESENTATION OF IDENTITY AND/OR DATA PROHIBITED
Company technology resources may not be used to misrepresent, obscure,
suppress, or replace one's identity or the origin of data or communications.
For example, "spoofing" (i.e., constructing electronic communications to
appear to be from somebody else) is prohibited. Each user's name, e-mail
address, organizational affiliation, time and date of transmission, and
related information included with electronic communications (including
postings) must always reflect the true originator, time, date, and place of
origination, as well as the original message's true content.
CHAIN LETTERS AND GAMES PROHIBITED
The Company's technology resources may not be used to transmit chain
letters, junk mail, spam (the same or substantially similar messages sent to
a large number of recipients) or pyramid schemes of any kind, or to download
or execute games (from the Internet or otherwise) for use via Company
technology resources.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT
All employees, including department heads, managers, supervisors, and all
other persons who use Company technology resources, must sign an
Acknowledgment and Statement of Agreement. The human resources department
will retain the Acknowledgments in users' personnel files.
FUTURE REVISIONS
This policy does not constitute, and shall not be construed as, an express
or implied contract of employment. The Company reserves the right to amend,
revise or depart from this policy at any time, with or without notice.
TERMINATION AT SEPARATION
Upon separation of employment, the Company will terminate user access to
technology resources.
CONSEQUENCES OF POLICY VIOLATIONS
Access to and use of Company technology resources is a privilege, not a
right. Users who do not comply with this policy are subject to denial of
access to Company technology resources and disciplinary action up to and
including immediate discharge.
