Council staff who face online abuse urged to seek help

COUNCIL staff impacted by online abuse from the public will be advised to seek support as part of the authority's new social media policy.

- BY MARK SMITH

Cheshire West and Chester has updated its staff social media policy for the first time since 2013, noting a 'changing landscape' in how social media is now used in the workplace and across wider society.

And while the earlier policy was mostly concerned with ensuring staff did not harm the authority's reputation when posting online, the updated guidelines also takes into account the issue of how staff are impacted too.

It states: "The existing policy was primarily concerned with ensuring that officers' use of social media, either in a personal capacity or on behalf of the council, does not in any way damage the reputation of the council.