March 2013 Social Media Guidelines The following provides employees with an understanding of FedEx guidelines about individual participation and personal comments in external internet social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, personal blogs and YouTube. These Guidelines apply to all external online situations where you identify yourself as a FedEx employee.
Table of Contents Introduction 1.0 Referring to FedEx in Social Media websites 3 2.0 Considerations if you refer to FedEx 3 Introduction These Guidelines are intended to protect Company and employee interests. The Guidelines are not intended to limit any employee rights, including the right to communicate about working conditions and/or employment terms. As always, should you have any questions about FedEx policies, please feel free to ask your manager or Human Resources. Please note that only certain designated employees are authorized to establish social media profiles or accounts on behalf of FedEx or to speak on behalf of FedEx on social media websites. If you want to establish a social media website on behalf of FedEx or a FedEx department, or if you want to speak on behalf of FedEx in social media, please contact the FedEx Social Media Strategies team by sending an email to socialmedia@fedex.com. As a reminder, any communications on behalf of FedEx with stock analysts, the financial markets and/or members of the media must be coordinated through FedEx Corporate Communications. All media inquiries should be directed to Corporate Communications. 2
1.0 Referring to FedEx in social media websites If you participate in external social media and identify yourself as a FedEx employee: When possible, use personal contact and email information, rather than your FedEx contact information. Try to be clear at the outset that you are speaking for yourself and not on behalf of FedEx. It is best to use a disclaimer at the outset such as: This is my personal (blog, space, comment) and contains my own views, thoughts and opinions. It is not endorsed by FedEx and is not an official communication of FedEx. 2.0 Considerations if you refer to FedEx If you participate on external social media and mention that you work for FedEx, any statements, images or material you post may be viewed as being on behalf of or in the name of FedEx. To help protect you and FedEx, and to help ensure compliance with the law, please keep the following considerations in mind: 1. Know and follow existing policies: When you identify yourself as a FedEx employee while using social media, you should follow the same policies that FedEx employees are expected to follow every day, including the FedEx Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and your operating company s Acceptable Conduct and Computer/Internet Resources policies. As a reminder, limited personal use of FedEx computer resources is permissible during your work hours, provided such use does not interfere with your job duties, the business needs of other employees, or with customers. FedEx computer resources belong to the Company and may be monitored or examined at any time to ensure compliance with Company policies. You should have no expectations of privacy for any information posted using a FedEx owned computer, software or device. Please refer to your operating company s Computer/Internet Resources Policy for more information. 2. Your identity matters: If you choose to comment on FedEx products or services or the products or services of FedEx 3
competitors, you must try to make it clear that your views are your own and not those of FedEx. This is to avoid any misunderstanding, confusion or misperceptions that you are speaking on behalf of FedEx. If you are in a social media setting and you believe someone has made comments regarding FedEx that are illegal or violate Company policy, you can choose not to respond or you can contact socialmedia@fedex.com. The Company has a staff of individuals who are authorized and trained to respond. 3. Write about what you know: This will help make your comments credible, interesting and easier to write. If the conversation is outside your knowledge, think twice before jumping in with advice or an opinion. 4. Use your own style: When communicating on social media sites, consider using the more personal, first person I and me. Be yourself. 5. Respect all copyright and other intellectual property laws: For FedEx s protection as well as your own, it is important that you show proper respect for the laws governing copyright, fair use of copyrighted material owned by others, trademarks and other intellectual property, including FedEx s own copyrights, trademarks and brands. 6. Your views are your own: You re personally responsible for your comments and content. For the purposes of these Guidelines, examples of inappropriate comments and content are those that are threatening, violent, obscene, intimidating, harassing, discriminatory, or that could contribute to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, or any other status protected by law or company policy. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to resolve work related complaints by speaking directly with your co-workers or by utilizing our Open Door Policy than by posting complaints to a social media outlet. Please be mindful that when you identify yourself as a FedEx employee, conduct in social media which violates Company policy or the law could affect your employment. 7. Online is forever: Whatever you publish will be public for a long time, so please be careful and thoughtful about what you post. 8. Understand your obligations around employment references and recommendations: FedEx does not allow managers to provide employment references or recommendations (electronic or otherwise) for individuals that they have supervised, and managers must not disclose non-public internal employee performance review information on social media sites. Follow your operating company s policy on verification of employment. 9. Confidential, Proprietary, and Private Information: Do not disclose or misuse confidential, proprietary, or private information. Examples include any non-public information about FedEx earnings, technology, business plans, intellectual property, vendors or customers, social security numbers and personal health information. For additional information, please refer to your operating company s policies and procedures governing confidential Information. 4
This Guideline is not intended to restrict communications by employees about wages, hours or other terms and conditions of employment. 10. Realize the risks: Please read these Guidelines carefully. The Guidelines are meant to protect you by helping you comply with the FedEx Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other applicable Company policies, violations of which can result in discipline up to and including termination. The Guidelines are also meant to protect FedEx, as deviation from the Guidelines can expose FedEx to legal liability, harm the FedEx brand, or damage trusted relationships with customers. FedEx reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to monitor online activity by employees using FedEx computer resources, including activities on social media websites. These Guidelines will continue to evolve over time as new technologies and social networking tools emerge. So check back from time-to-time to make certain you are up to date. FedEx may modify, suspend or withdraw the Guidelines at any time. For more information: If you have questions or need further guidance, please feel free to contact your HR representative. 7