This social media policy provides guidance for employees on appropriate use of social media both for professional purposes and personal use. It defines social media and outlines procedures for social media use, including adhering to the company's code of conduct. The policy prohibits posting confidential information, defamatory, pornographic or libelous content. Employees are advised to separate personal and professional social media accounts.

1. Pathway Group
putting you first
Social Media Policy

2. 1.
OBJECTIVE
This Social Media Policy has been introduced to provide guidance for employee use
of social media, which should be broadly understood for the purpose of this policy to
include blogs, wikis, micro blogs, message boards, chat rooms, electronic newsletters,
online forums, social networking sites, and other sites and services that permit users
to share information with others in a contemporaneous manner.
DEFINITION
• Social media’ is the term commonly given to web-based tools which allow users to
interact with each other in some way – by sharing information, opinions, knowledge
and interests online. As the name implies, social media involves the building of
online communities or networks to encourage participation and engagement
• For the purposes of these guidelines, social media is a type of interactive online
media that allows parties to communicate instantly with each other or to share
data in a public forum. This includes e-mail, online social forums, blogs, video and
image-sharing websites and similar facilities
• Due to the nature of the constantly changing social media environment employees
should be aware that there are many more examples of social media that have not
been listed in this policy. Employees should therefore follow these guidelines in
relation to any social media that they use
PROCEDURES
The following principles apply to professional use of social media on behalf of Pathway
Group as well as personal use of social media when referencing Pathway Group:
• Employees need to know and adhere to Pathway Groups’ Code of Professional
Conduct, Staff Handbook and other company policies referred to below, when
using social media in reference to Pathway
• Employees should be aware of the eff ect their actions may have on their image, as
well as the image of the business. The information that employees post or publish
may be public information for a long time and any comment or information written
on such platforms is considered to be in the ‘public domain’ and therefore can be
re-published on other platforms without the need for individual consent and is
free of copy-write

3. 2.
• Employees should be aware that Pathway Group may observe content and
information made available by employees through social media. Employees
should use their very best judgment when contemplating posting material,
which they might consider to be neither inappropriate nor harmful to Pathway
Group, its employees, or customers but which may be taken out of context or
spuriously associated to Pathway Group
• Although not an exclusive list, some specifi c examples of prohibited social media
conduct include posting commentary, content, or images that are defamatory,
pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libellous, or that can create a hostile work
environment
• Employees are not to publish, post or release any information that is considered
confi dential or not for public use. If there are questions about what is considered
confi dential, employees should check with the Director, Human Resources or the
Head of Marketing
• Social media networks, blogs and other types of online content sometimes
generate press and media attention or legal questions. Employees should refer
these inquiries to Safaraz Ali, Director at Pathway Group
• If employees encounter a situation while using social media that threatens to
become antagonistic, employees should disengage from the dialogue in a polite
manner and seek the advice of the Director or Head of Marketing
• Employees should get appropriate permission before referring to or posting
images of current or former employees, partners, learners or suppliers.
Additionally, employees should get appropriate permission to use a third party’s
copyrights, copyrighted material, trademarks, service marks, logos or other
intellectual property
• The use of the internet to access Social media during work hours for
unauthorised personnel is prohibited. Pathway group will use web fi ltering
software to block access to certain websites and retain an audit log of web usage.
IT will consider unblocking specifi c websites for legitimate work related purposes
only. Requests must be clarifi ed with a line manager and Emailed to IT support.
Please refer to the Computer, Email and Internet Usage Policy and Procedure
Policy
• It is essential that employees keep Pathway Group related social media accounts
separate from and personal social media accounts

4. 3.
RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the Head of Marketing to ensure that the requirements of
this procedure are implemented and maintained unless otherwise agreed by the
Director.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
• Computer, Email & Internet Usage Policy
• E-Safety Policy

5. Pathway Group
Fairgate house, 205 Kings Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2AA
Tel: 0800 955 0870 / 0121 707 0550
Email: info@pathwaygroup.co.uk
Web: www.pathwaygroup.co.uk