Voice Mail. While our voice mail system is designed to increase productivity, it is expected that you will treat employees with respect for their dignity when leaving messages. Please do not leave curt or last-minute messages for anyone. Do not use the voice mail system to "hide" from coworkers or customers. If you are at your desk, you are generally expected to answer your telephone.

Generally, the voice mail system is not to be used for personal messages such as soliciting contributions for your favorite charity, arranging for an after work get-togethers or the like.

You have been assigned a personal password; please do not give it out to anyone. The passwords may be changed in order to maintain security. Messages may be randomly monitored to determine whether any outsiders are using the system, or whether any violations of Company policy have occurred.

Electronic Mail. Generally, sensitive information is not to be sent via  electronic mail. For example, performance reviews are not to be sent to the personnel department through electronic mail. Similarly, if you have outside access to electronic mail through a modem, you are not to send a message to your supervisor that you are going to be absent that day. Instead, you need to comply with Company policy and personally speak with your supervisor about your inability to work that day.

While you may have a personal, private password, the manager of information systems has access to all electronic mail messages in order to ensure compliance with Company policy.

Just as the Company does not permit the posting of items for solicitation on bulletin boards or the circulation of memos soliciting sales or contributions to charity, you may not do so through the electronic mail system.

Company policies apply to the use of the voice mail and electronic mail system. For example, our policies concerning courtesy, solicitation, harassment, and reporting absences all apply. Employees who fail to comply with the voice mail, electronic mail, or other Company policies are subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Employees have no personal privacy right in anything created, received, or sent on or from the e-mail or voicemail system, and by accessing the system, employees expressly waive any right of privacy in anything they create, store, send, or receive on the system. By accessing the system, employees further consent to allowing personnel of the Company to access all material created, sent, or received on the system.

INTERNET POLICY (STANDARD)

Employees may use the Internet to increase productivity. If you are using an Internet account paid for by the company, you are expected to only use it for business purposes. If you have a personal Web account, you may use it to perform work for the company. However, company facilities (including phone lines, modems, hard drives) are to be used only for company purposes.

Under no circumstances are pornographic or harassing materials to be sent or received using company facilities at any time or using personal facilities during working hours.

Employees are expected to comply with all company policies that may be applicable to the Internet. These include confidentiality, harassment, scanning for viruses, encryption of data sent across the Internet, etc.
 
The company does monitor its phone system, network, and computers. Information stored in or on company facilities is subject to inspection at any time without notice. Employees have no personal privacy right in anything created, received, or sent on or from the computer and/or Internet system; by accessing the system, employees expressly waive any right of privacy in anything they create, store, send, or receive on the system. By accessing the system, employees further consent to allowing personnel of the Company to access all material created, sent, or received on the system.
 
  OR
 
INTERNET  (Allows personal use at work)

Employees may use the Internet to increase productivity. Employees are expected to comply with all company policies that may be applicable to the Internet. These include, but are not limited to, confidentiality, harassment, solicitation, outside employment, and business ethics.  Under no circumstances are pornographic or harassing materials to be sent, received, viewed, or downloaded using company facilities at any time or using personal facilities during working hours. 

Personal use of the Internet is not prohibited if it does not interfere with job responsibilities and productivity. Anonymous messages are not to be sent. Aliases are not to be used. Employees are not to place personal copies of software or data on any computer without prior authorization. 

If you are using an Internet site paid for by the company, you are expected to only use it for business purposes. All work created or received using company equipment or facilities is company property. Illegal use of software is prohibited. 

The company does monitor its phone system, network, and computers. Information stored in or on company facilities is subject to inspection at any time without notice. Employees have no personal privacy right in anything created, received, or sent on or from the computer and/or Internet system; by accessing the system, employees expressly waive any right of privacy in anything they create, store, send, or receive on the system. By accessing the system, employees further consent to allowing personnel of the Company to access all material created, sent, or received on the system.

Violation of this company policy may lead to discipline, including discharge. (or in the alternative - Violation of this company policy will be addressed as a performance issue.)

Optional:
All items uploaded to our Web site are to be scanned for viruses. All items downloaded from our Web site or any other location are to be scanned for viruses. Material downloaded from the Internet are to be placed on diskettes first; it is never to be placed on a hard drive. At least two anti-virus softwares are to be used to scan for viruses before any material from a diskette is placed on our network system.

Basic reasons why you need an Employee Handbook with sample contents. 
Detailed Table of Contents - 
Complete sample text of Employee Handbook 
       (47KB Zip file of MS Word.DOC)