Computer Network and Internet Access Policy

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that contains millions of pages of information.  Employees are cautioned that many of these pages include offensive, sexually explicit, and inappropriate material.  Even innocuous search requests may lead to sites with highly offensive content.  Additionally, having an e-mail address on the Internet may lead to receipt of unsolicited e-mail containing offensive content.  Employees accessing the Internet do so at their own risk; PALCS and is not responsible for material viewed or downloaded by users from the Internet. To minimize these risks, your use of the Internet is governed by the following:

Permitted Use of Internet and Computer Network
The computer network is the property of PALCS and is to be used for legitimate business purposes.  Employees are provided access to the computer network to assist them in the performance of their jobs.  All employees have a responsibility to use PALCS’ computer resources and the Internet in a professional, lawful, and ethical manner. Abuse of the computer network or the Internet, may result in disciplinary action, including possible termination, and civil and/or criminal liability.

Computer Network Use Limitations
Prohibited Activities. Without prior written permission from PALCS, the computer network may not be used to disseminate, view, or store commercial or personal advertisements, solicitations, promotions, destructive code (e.g., viruses, trojan horse programs, etc.) or any other unauthorized materials.  Occasional limited appropriate personal use of the computer is permitted if such use does not (a) interfere with the employee’s or any other employee’s job performance; (b) have an undue effect on the computer or PALCS’ network performance; (c) and/or violate any other policies, provisions, guidelines or standards of PALCS.  Further, at all times employees are responsible for the professional, ethical, and lawful use of the computer system.  Personal use of the computer is a privilege that may be revoked at any time.

Illegal Copying. Employees may not illegally copy material protected under copyright law or make that material available to others for copying.  Employees are responsible for complying with copyright law and applicable licenses that may apply to software, files, graphics, documents, messages, and other material you wish to download or copy.  You may not agree to a license or download any material for which a registration fee is charged without first obtaining the express written permission of the CEO.

Communication of Trade Secrets. Unless expressly authorized to do so, employees are prohibited from sending, transmitting, or otherwise distributing proprietary information, data, trade secrets, or other confidential information belonging to PALCS.  Unauthorized dissemination of such material may result in severe disciplinary action as well as substantial civil and criminal penalties under state and federal Economic Espionage laws.

Duty Not to Waste or Damage Computer Resources
Accessing the Internet. To ensure security and avoid the spread of viruses, employees accessing the Internet through a computer attached to PALCS’ network must do so through an approved Internet firewall or other security device.  Bypassing PALCS’ computer network security by accessing the Internet directly by modem or other means is strictly prohibited unless the computer you are using is not connected to PALCS’ network.

Frivolous Use. Computer resources are not unlimited.  Network bandwidth and storage capacity have finite limits, and all employees connected to the network have a responsibility to conserve these resources.  As such, employees must not deliberately perform acts that waste computer resources or unfairly monopolize resources to the exclusion of others.  These acts include, but are not limited to, sending mass mailings or chain letters, spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, playing games, engaging in online chat groups, uploading or downloading large files, accessing streaming audio and/or video files, or otherwise creating unnecessary loads on network traffic associated with non-business-related uses of the Internet.

Virus detection. Files obtained from sources outside PALCS, including disks brought from home, files downloaded from the Internet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, or other online services, files attached to e-mail, and files provided by customers or vendors, may contain dangerous computer viruses that may damage PALCS’ computer network.  Employees should never download files from the Internet, accept e-mail attachments from outsiders, or use disks from non-PALCS sources, without first scanning the material with Company-approved virus checking software.  If you suspect that a virus has been introduced into the PALCS network, notify the CEO and IT Department immediately.

No Expectation of Privacy Employees are given computers and Internet access to assist them in the performance of their jobs.  Employees should have no expectation of privacy in anything they create, store, send, or receive using PALCS’ computer equipment.  The computer network is the property of PALCS and may be used only for PALCS purposes.

Monitoring of computer and Internet usage. PALCS has the right to monitor and log any and all aspects of its Computer system including, but not limited to, monitoring Internet sites visited by employees, monitoring chat and newsgroups, monitoring file downloads, and all communications sent and received by employees.

Blocking sites with inappropriate content. PALCS has the right to utilize software that makes it possible to identify and block access to Internet sites containing sexually explicit or other material deemed inappropriate in the workplace.