Social Media Policy

Last updated: August 11, 2024

At Bespoke Business Development, we are well aware of how online social computing platforms—such as blogs, wikis, social networks, and all sorts of social media both inside and outside the Group—are transforming the way we interact. Online collaboration enables people to share knowledge and ideas regardless of rank, title, or experience. It’s a way for us to take part in conversations around the work we do at  Bespoke Business Development and show our expertise in these areas.

This policy has been developed for all members of the Group to follow whenever contributing to online social computing platforms where there are references to or a potential impact on Bespoke Business Development. The policy can also be found in our Social Media Handbook.

Think before you post

Keep in mind that most online social platforms are like public marketplaces. What’s out there is available for all to see. On social platforms, the boundaries of professional and personal information are not always clear. In these days of shifting privacy policies and powerful search engine indexing, you can’t always be sure what is being shared, viewed, or archived. Note that what you publish online will be public for a very long time. What you post will reflect on you, so be consistent with the way you would wish to portray yourself to friends, family, colleagues, and clients.

If you are unsure whether certain content is appropriate to share online, then don’t post it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Responsibility

You are personally responsible for your words and actions, no matter where you are, even in the online world. Please remember that when you participate in social media, you are speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the Group. Identify yourself using the first person singular.

When you discuss Group-related information online, be transparent by giving your name and role and mentioning that you work for the Group. If you have an individual site that refers to or has an impact on the Group, use a disclaimer such as “The views expressed on this site are my own and not those of  Bespoke Business Development.”

Where applicable law permits, know that the Group reserves the right to monitor use of social platforms and take appropriate action to protect against misuse that may be harmful to the Group’s reputation. Breaches of these Guidelines will be sanctioned in accordance with applicable laws.

Establishing a Group account or becoming an official Group representative that shares information about the Group and the areas we work in requires approval from the Group Digital & Content team. Only these accounts may display the company logo. If you would like to represent Bespoke Business Development or create a Group account, please contact your local Marketing and Communications team. If a member of the press or online media contacts you about online content concerning Bespoke Business Development, please refer them to the Group press office, or your local PR manager.

Conduct

Your behavior online should be consistent with Our Code of Business Ethics.

You have the opportunity to help shape the Group’s reputation online. Use your expert knowledge to enrich discussions, help solve problems, share the excitement of our work environment, and promote learning and idea-sharing.

Please bear in mind that your readers, due to a lack of non-verbal communication or cultural differences, may interpret the tone you use online in different ways. Some participants may not be familiar with abbreviations, emoticons, and other common codes used in online communication. Remember also that comments are often taken out of context, so stick to the facts.

Trust is the key element in building relationships online. Build trust by keeping a respectful tone, even when disagreeing with others, and by responding to comments in a timely manner. If you realize that you’ve make a mistake, try to correct it promptly.

Do not engage in any conduct online that would not be acceptable in your workplace or that is unlawful. For example, do not make derogatory remarks, bully, intimidate, harass other users, use insults, or post content that is hateful, slanderous, threatening, discriminating, or pornographic.

Confidentiality

Always protect clients’, the Group’s, and suppliers’ confidential and other proprietary information. Do not publish anything online that you would not share with a journalist, client, analyst, or competitor.

Make sure any reference to clients, partners, and suppliers does not violate any non-disclosure obligations. Please also remember your confidentiality obligations under your employment agreement.

Do not disclose information about colleagues or other persons, misuse their personal data, or publish their photos without their permission.

Even when the application is behind SSO (for example Talent, Connect, KM3.0, BAM, local intranets, etc.), users should still use good judgment regarding information that could be of a sensitive nature. Don’t use social platforms to exchange information that is client, Group or supplier confidential, unless access is restricted to a tightly controlled closed community with each participant having been cleared for receipt of such information, and the platform has been cleared for appropriate security levels. Public sites are not appropriate sites for internal communication with other Group employees.

Copyrights

Comply with laws and regulations and more particularly with laws governing intellectual property rights, including copyrights and trademarks. You must not post content or take any action that violates the law or infringes Group or any third party’s intellectual property rights.

Final thoughts

Use of social media platforms in accordance with this policy can be a very effective and powerful communication tool. Be proud of what you do and enjoy a sense of accomplishment in the search for better quality and greater efficiency. Above all, please use good judgment, be attentive to others, and take the trouble to listen and be understood.

Social Media House Rules

While our Social Media Policy sets out how we expect Bespoke Business Development employees to conduct themselves online, our House Rules explain the kind of behavior we expect from anyone interacting with us on social media.

We aim to keep our social media channels a pleasant experience and ensure our communities are positive, constructive, and supportive. To this end we reserve the right to remove any posts in breach of our house rules and to block any individual who violates them repeatedly.

We will remove comments that:

Defame abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights of others.

• Are racist, sexist, homophobic, sexually explicit, abusive or otherwise objectionable
• Contain swear words or other language likely to offend.
• Advertise products or services for profit.
• Are made to appear as if they have been posted by someone else.
• Repeatedly post the same message, or are unrelated to Bespoke Business Development and its brands – ‘spam’.
• We know or suspect may break the law or condone or encourage unlawful
  activity. This includes publishing, posting, distributing or
  disseminating any defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, misleading
  or unlawful material or information.

We reserve the right to adjust these rules as needed and to delete content for reasons not stated in this list.

By using our social channels you agree to comply with these house rules and the platform’s own terms and conditions.

Comments and other material posted by users of our social channels do not reflect the opinions of Bespoke Business Development, nor does Bespoke Business Development confirm their accuracy.

If you would like to alert us to any inappropriate use of this site as specified, please contact: socialmedia@bespoke-business.com

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Policy, please contact us.

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