(A) Computers, computer files, the email system, and software furnished to employees are the town’s property and intended for business use, not for personal use. Employees should not use a password, access a file, or retrieve any stored communication without authorization. To ensure compliance with this policy, computer and email usage may be monitored.
(B) The town strives to maintain a workplace free of harassment and sensitive to the diversity of its employees. Therefore, the town prohibits the use of computers and the email system in ways that are discriminatory, disruptive, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating, offensive to others, or harmful to morale. For example, the display or transmission of sexually explicit images, messages, and cartoons is not allowed. Other such misuse includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Ethnic slurs, racial comments, off-color jokes, or anything that may be construed as harassment or showing disrespect for employees, residents, customers of town services, or visitors.
(2) Copying, pirating, or downloading software and electronic files without permission.
(3) Participating in the viewing or exchange of pornography or obscene materials.
(4) Attempting to break into the computer system of another organization or employee.
(5) Refusing to cooperate with a security investigation.
(6) Disclosing information acquired in the course of one’s work.
(7) Sending or posting messages that disparage another organization’s products or services while engaged in performing his or her work tasks from a town-owned computer or mobile device.
(C) The town purchases and licenses the use of various computer software for business purposes and does not own the copyright to this software or its related documentation. Unless authorized by the software developer, neither the town nor any employee has the right to reproduce such software for use on more than one computer. Employees may only use software on local area networks or on multiple machines according to the software license agreement. The town prohibits the illegal duplication of software and its related documentation. Employees may not use any remote-control software or service on any internal or external host or systems not specifically approved by the town.
(D) Employees should be aware of the characteristics of spam and phishing messages and recognize and dispose of spam and phishing messages appropriately. Employees should never provide their login ID and/or password as a result of an email or phone solicitation unless they are completely certain it is from their agency or the Information Technology Officer. Employees should not risk a malware infection by navigating to links embedded in spam messages.
(E) Employees should notify their department head, the Information Technology Officer, the Town Manager, or the Clerk-Treasurer upon learning of violations of this policy. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to prohibit or otherwise restrict concerted activities by employees that are protected by law.
(Ord. 2020-26, passed 1-12-21)