3. Typical codes of conduct rules
Over the next few pages we will cover some of the more general rules you may see in a Codes of Conduct.
Rules that set limits on what you can do with company systems and equipment.
The main purpose for ICT systems within a company is to support their business. However, these systems are also very useful for personal use and so rules are put in place to make it clear what the boundaries are.
- Web browsing - staff should not spend undue time during working hours browsing the web for their own entertainment. Quite often the rules will be not be specific, so it is down to the employee and their manager to deem what is reasonable. But it does make them think before wasting hours on the Web.
- Emails - Reasonable limits on how many non-work emails are sent each day.
- Instant messaging - this may be blocked altogether or rules put in place about how it is used.
- Downloading files - downloading huge files consume company bandwidth so they must be essential for work. Downloading executable files is often banned.
- Telephone - there may be rules about using telephone for personal calls. Especially when making international calls or using premium rate numbers.
- Browser habits - rules to define what type of sites should not be visited for example many companies ban social networking sites, gambling sites, sport sites, shopping sites, auction sites. These rules are usually there to discourage people from wasting company time.
- Inappropriate sites - these are morally dubious sites such as pornographic, racist or ones that promote violence.
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ICT and Ethics