State employees are required to sign an “Acceptable Use Policy” before accessing state computer systems and email. With the recent counter-offensive we want to remind state employees that they are violating this policy if they send political messages via the state email system or use a state owned computer/network to access their personal email to send political messages. We hope any violations will be reported to DTI.
Here’s an except from the “Acceptable Use Policy” regarding “Personal Use” - The entire document can be found on the DTI website:
Personal Use
While State systems are intended for primarily business/instructional purposes, limited (incidental and occasional) personal use may be permissible when authorized by your management and it does not:
- Interfere with your work responsibilities or business/instructional operations.
- Involve interests in personal outside business and/or other non-authorized organizations and activities (which may include, but is not limited to selling personal property/items or soliciting for or promoting commercial ventures, charitable, religious or political activities or causes).
- Violate any of the standards contained in this code or other State of Delaware policies.
- Lead to inappropriate costs to the State. (Excessive personal surfing, utilizing streaming services such as listening to music or watching video, and downloading of music and video files are specifically forbidden.)
Also, here is the section on “Unlawful and Inappropriate Use”:
Unlawful and Inappropriate Use
Users are obligated to never use State systems (such as the Intranet or Internet) to engage in activities that are unlawful, violate State policies or in ways that would:
- Be disruptive, cause offense to others, or harm morale.
- Be considered harassing or discriminatory or create a hostile work environment.
- Result in State of Delaware’s liability, embarrassment or loss of reputation.
External groups or organizations are not permitted to make announcements, solicitations or otherwise access the State’s Communications and Computer Systems, except as permitted by law.
We hope any violations will be reported to DTI.
Are you suggesting they get fired? That letter was also received by the DSEA membership.
Although it would save payroll costs, that might be a bit extreme. Maybe they should lose their computer privledges?
I’m not sure how rampant these emails are, but they are an abuse of a taxpayer funded system. I’ve heard it’s really bad at the county level.
It was interesting to see that the organizer told them to foward it to their “home address” and then send it to their legislators. He knows it is wrong but still decided to send it out.
Honestly, my brain’s a little fried today (hit the trifecta with all three kids sick – no, not swine flu, only stomach-sick – and been working since 8AM and still doing so right now). I went back and realized that recipients can’t exactly help they were sent something unsolicited, so that condition wasn’t what you were talking about.
I hope the free market will soon deliver affordable ubiquitous wireless communication services, so people can use their own network for email and web services, instead of being tempted to use the employer’s network.
Remember (not you, Charlie) when you used to be afraid to use the company phone for a personal call because you might get in trouble, especially if it was long distance? Now you just use your cell phone. Same thing is going to happen for email and web.
I believe there is a clause in DSEA affiliate contracts that allows for union (association) business/info via school/state e-mail systems.
Off-topic, but how much longer does KLM get his free-pass of insider baseball, taking opportune shots with inside info, but protecting himself while attempting to take others down, from behind his hidey-wall? You all are getting played!
Maybe just a lil’ heads up in light of Judge Myron Steele’s misstep….
Yeah, that was…er…uh… SCHTOOPID!