Code of Conduct
The goal at PACE is to facilitate and inspire the best, most engaged, community that we can, through a partnership with our members, employees and staff. In this regard, we are very passionate about what we do on a daily basis and encourage all members, employees and participants to have open and honest communication. Everyone is encouraged to tell the world about PACE, your work and share your passion for customer and employee engagement.
Whether you do so by participating in a forum, blog, wiki, online social network or any other form of online publishing or discussion is completely up to you. However, these new ways of communication are changing the way we talk to each other and even to our consumers, target audiences and partners. In order to avoid any problems or misunderstandings, we have come up with a few guidelines to provide helpful and practical advice for you when operating on the Internet as an identifiable employee. Whether it is with PACE or within your own company or association, we ask that all members adhere to these guidelines.
Of note: "The postings on this site belong to the members that are represented. They do not necessarily represent the position, strategy or opinions of the Professional Association for Customer Engagement (PACE).
Please always write in the first person and don't use your company email address for private communications. And please consider that even anonymous postings on Wikipedia can be traced back to the company that you are an employee of.
Each member is personally responsible for the content published on Forums, blogs, wikis or any other form of user-generated media. Please remember that the internet never forgets. This means everything you publish will be visible to the world for a very, very long time.
Each member should exercise common sense. If you are about to publish something that makes you even the slightest bit uncomfortable, review it. If you are still unsure and it is related to the PACE, or your company and its brands, talk to your manager or Corporate Communications team. Remember you represent your company and this association.
Just because information is on this community website, or on your own company websites (internal/external), it may not be ok to let the rest of the world know about it. If an item features the sentence "for internal use only" then that is exactly what it means and it is absolutely not meant to be forwarded to anyone who is not employed by your company or not a member.
It is perfectly fine to talk about your work and have a dialogue with the community, but do not comment on work-related legal matters unless you are an official spokesperson for your company and have the legal approval. PACE is not responsible for members discussing revenues, future products, pricing, trade secrets, unannounced financial results or similar matters that might get you or you company or both into serious trouble. Stay away from discussing financial topics and predictions of future performance at all costs.
Respect your audience
Don't use ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, or engage in any conduct that would not be acceptable in the PACE or your company workplace. You should also show proper consideration for others privacy and for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory (like religion or politics). If you are in a virtual, or use video to communicate please dress and behave accordingly. We all appreciate respect.
Think about consequences
Imagine you are sitting in a sales meeting and your client brings out a printout of a colleague's post that states that the product you were about to sell "completely sucks". Talk about a tough pitch. So, please remember: Using your public voice to trash or embarrass your employer, your customers, your co-workers or even yourself is not okay - and not very smart.
Have you posted something that just wasn't true? Be the first to respond to your own mistake.
Modify an earlier post, make it clear that you have done so.
Please respect copyright
If it is not yours, don't use it. It is very simple. It is that person's choice to share his or her material with the world, not yours. Before posting someone else's work, please check with the owner first. Understand that social media posts that link to articles, or mention the writers given consent, is usually fine, but always check.
Don't cite or reference clients, partners or suppliers without their approval. When you do make a reference where possible, link back to the source.
Be aware that others will associate you with your employer when you identify yourself as such. Please ensure that your Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube profile and related content is consistent with how you wish to present yourself with clients and colleagues.
Even if you act with the best intentions, you must remember that anything you put out about your company can potentially harm the company. This goes for all internal media as well, like the intranet or any newsletters you send out. As soon as you act on the company's behalf by distributing information, you are upholding the company's image. Please act responsibly. If in doubt, please contact your Corporate Communications Team.
And finally, with all the blogging and interacting, don't forget we all have daily jobs and responsibilities to be good individual and corporate citizens...
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