Aon Social Media Policy and Participation Guidelines
1. Policy Statement & Scope
Aon recognizes that social media has become a globally accepted personal and professional form of communication, collaboration and connection. This policysets forth the restrictionsaround social media use, participation,and communicationsby Aon employees(you), or anyone engagedby Aon, while employed or during your associationwith Aon, where your name and title are representative of Aon and you may be identified or presumed as associated with Aon, including Aon-hosted social media and non-Aon hosted social media.
This policy applies to all directors,officers, and employees of Aon, and any other individual or entity acting for or on behalf of Aon, or engaged by Aon, including contractors. This policy applies to all Aon entities, including subsidiaries and joint ventures in which Aon holds a controlling interest.
This policy is intended to ensure global compliance with any and all legal, regulatory, privacy, confidentiality,and non-disclosure agreements around the use of social media. Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or engagement by Aon, subject to applicable procedural requirements of the laws and rules of the countries in which we operate.
2. Definitions
Social media is defined as any platform, service or tool that facilitates connectivity and content sharing on the Internet. Aon’s Social Media Policy and Participation Guidelines for use include, but are not limited to, the following as well as any other future types of social media or social networking tools:
- Social networkingsites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, Weibo, etc.)
- Social sharing sites (YouTube, Flickr, etc.)
- Microbloggingsites (Twitter, Plurk, etc.)
- Social bookmarking sites (Digg, Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon,etc.)
- Review Sites (Glassdoor, etc.)
- Social gamingand virtual worlds (Second Life, etc.)
- Wikis (Wikipedia,etc.) Blogs
3. Privacy
Subject to applicable legal requirements of the countries in which we operate, Aon technology resources may be monitored, with or without notice, and any expectationof privacy while using Aon technology resources is not to be assumedin all countries.
Detailed Policy
1. Follow the Aon Code of BusinessConduct
Aon’s Code of Business Conduct sets forth standards for ethical behavior, insider trading, financial disclosures,data privacy, confidentiality, maintaining professional image and reputation, and other standards that apply to our dealings. Conduct and communication on social media platforms must adhere to Aon’s Code of Business Conduct.
Due to the public and often permanent nature of social media and social networking environments subject to applicable laws and rules in the countries in which we operate, it is mandatory that online activities are performed consistent with Aon’s Code of Business Conduct and all other Company policies
You can be held personally liable for commentary and postings deemedto be or appearing to be legally defamatory, discriminatory, obscene, offensive, proprietary,or libelous, and which are not otherwise protected activity, whether pertaining to Aon, other employees, our clients, customers, partners, suppliers, vendors, or any other companies.
By working for Aon and identifying yourself as an Aon employee, you are associating yourself with Aon, Aon’s clients, partners,and colleagues. The content that you post, both in text and through imagery, should be indicative of your professionalism and your representation of Aon on social platforms.
While participating in social media, you are expected to adhere to all global and local Aon policies, local law, and rules of the countries in which we operate. If you are unsure of the legality or appropriateness of the content or discourseyou are attempting to post or take part in, you must consult your manager, HR, or law department.
Activities conducted on personal time using personal equipment that are unacceptable under Aon’s Code of Business Conduct and any other Aon policies and guidelines, and which are not otherwise protected activity, may lead to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to, any actions that are illegal, involve threats of violence, or are harassment or discrimination.
Accessing social media sites during work hours and/or when using Aon’s equipment should be for business purposes only and should not interfere with your job duties. Personal use of these sites during work hours may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination
2. Accept Personal Responsibility
Because of the nature of technological tracking, anonymous posts and comments can be tracked to the individual. Any comments, content, and/or participation by you will be your responsibility and not Aon’s. When making your opinions public, you are also legally responsible for your commentary.
When you are engaging with social media for business reasons, you must identify yourself when you discuss Aon or Aon-related material and post disclaimers,as set out below, where appropriate.
If you are not a formal representative of Aon, and there is any reasonable possibility that your thoughts and opinions will be attributed or connected with Aon, you must make it clear that the posted thoughts and opinions are your own and are not on behalf of Aon. If there is potential for confusion or misattribution, you should prominently post a disclaimer stating that you are posting a personal opinion, which has not been reviewed, or endorsed by, Aon:
“The postings on this site are my own opinions and are not the position of the Aon Corporation, or its subsidiaries, clients, partners or suppliers.”
You may not alter your social profiles or create social profiles that are intended to confuse, misrepresent or conceal your identity when participating, contributing or creating content involving Aon, Aon’s business, Aon’s clients, partners, suppliers and vendors and other Aon employees.
Compliance with the terms and conditions of social media sites is your responsibility. When engaging with social sites, you should ensure that your use of these sites complies with the terms and conditions of the sites themselves.
3. Adhere to Confidentiality Agreements and Avoid Endorsements and Official References
You may not disclose confidential or proprietary informationabout Aon, Aon’s clients, Aon’s partners, suppliers and vendors, or Aon colleagues.
You may not discuss or disclose any financial statements until they have been externally publishedby Aon. This includes nonpublicfinancial information about Aon or its clients such as future business performanceand anything related to Aon’s strategy, services, management, and potential mergers or acquisitionsthat have not been made public.
You may not discuss or disclose specific client work including, but not limited to, the posting of comments, photographs or client logos, unless you have receivedpre-approval from the client. You must wait for formal Aon or media coverage of the content before making it known through social platforms. You must not disclose on public social platforms through comments and/or direct or indirect interactions, any Aon business relationships that are subject to confidentiality or non-disclosureagreements.
You must not disclose business relationships that are confidential through comments, interactions and/or promotions of content on any social platform.
Due to the nature of social media, online commentary may generate media coverage. If a member of the media or anyone else contacts you about Aon-relatedpostings or requests Aon information of any kind, you must not give any response except to direct themedia to Aon’s Media Contacts listed here: http://aon.mediaroom.com/media-contacts
4. Adhere to All Copyrightsand Trademarks
You may not distribute or incorporate any material retrieved or copied from another website or publication without citing sources.
You must adhere to all laws regarding copyrighted material including imagery. Cite sources when and where appropriate.
5. Adhere to Aon Brand Standards and Acknowledge Aon Ownership Rights. All accounts on social platforms that carry the Aon name and logo are and will be owned by Aon.
The use of the Aon name, trademarks, and logo requires written consent from Aon. You may only use the “Aon” name and logo for official channels owned by Aon. Aon will hold the ownership rights to Aon branded channels and the corresponding audiences for those channels in the event of employee termination.
For Aon approved social channels, you must gain prior approval for the use of the Aon name, trademarks or logo, from [email protected].
Accounts that bear the Aon logo are subject to deletion with or without notice if prior approval has not been granted.
You must not use the Aon namein any profile names for your personal or professional profiles (e.g JohnDoeAon).
Aon reserves the right, in its sole discretion,to remove inappropriate content from Aon-owned or Aon-sponsored social media channels, with or without warning.
In the event that content represents Aon and is tied to you on non-Aon owned or non-Aon sponsored social channels, Aon reserves the right to request that the content be removed by you when and where appropriate, subject to applicable laws in the countriesin which we operate.
6. Disciplinary Action
This policy is intended to ensure global compliance with any and all legal, regulatory, privacy, confidentiality, and non-disclosure agreementsaround the use of social media. Violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or engagement by Aon, subject to applicable procedural requirements of the laws and rules of the countries in which we operate. Aon reserves the right to restrict access to social media sites as appropriate.
7. Policy Sponsor
Global Interactive Marketing is the sponsor of this policy
8. Resources
If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact [email protected].
You may also contact Aon’s Ethics Helpline https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/7663/Index-EN-D.html.The Aon Ethics Helpline can help you find advice and answers to questionsabout policies, laws and the right course of action by referring your inquiry to the right person or resource. The Helpline is a way to report in good faith, possible violations of law, regulations or Aon’s policies. Those who contact the Ethics Helpline can remain anonymous if they choose. There will be no retaliation against anyone who raises good faith questions or concerns under this policy, or any of Aon’s compliancepolicies
Policy Version: 2.0
Policy Owner: Global Interactive Marketing
Issue Date: January 10, 2012