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City of Eugene Human Resources Political Activity Guide: Appropriate Involvement Political Activity Guide: Appropriate Involvement The following excerpts from the law and accompanying suggestions are to remind you of these restrictions for all public employees. If you have any questions about this information contact Human Resources. If you want a detailed checklist of do's and don'ts, click on the following link which will take you to the City s Intranet Online References page. Click on Campaign and Elections Regulations in the Staff documents section of the page. http: / /ceshare /refcentral /City ° /o20Policies /pub emplpolitical.pdf One of the consistent messages in the seven points below is to make sure you are not engaged in political activity on City time. Example 1: You are a Library employee and wanted to spend time advocating a position on the Library Local Option Tax measure. You could do that as long as you did not use any City resources or any work time. Similarly, if you are a firefighter, you should not be supporting a local option tax for public safety (or other) services while on City time, or dressed in your uniform where someone from the public could be confused as to whether you are advocating as a City employee. Example 2: You are a City employee and you were at a neighborhood meeting as a citizen. In this situation you could advocate a position and even identify yourself as a Library employee. It would also be important to make it a point with those you are addressing, that you are off duty and speaking as a private citizen who happens to be a City employee. If you are an exempt employee (supervisor, manager, administrator) pay close attention to point number six below. In this case, it's important that you go the extra mile and document your use of time so that there is no question later as to your off duty status while advocating a position on a ballot measure. 1. Public employees may not be involved in promoting or opposing any initiative, referendum or recall petition, ballot measure or candidate while on the job during working hours. This does not apply to elected public officials. This precludes, among other activities, the preparation of materials used in either support or opposition as well as their distribution during regular working hours. 2. Lunch hours and breaks when the employee is considered to be off duty may be used for political activity. However, public resources such as telephones, computers, fax, and copy machines may not be used for political activity even during non - working hours. A public employee may only provide impartial /factual information related to a measure or candidate as a part of his or her job. 3. A public employee or other person (including elected officials) may not ask or direct public employees to prepare or distribute information that expresses such support or opposition. 4. Public employees may not be involved in activities such as collection of funds or receipt and distribution of advocacy or recruitment correspondence for political action committees on their work time. hup. / /ceshare /ts /hr /Guides Procedures (Political_Activity_Guide Appropriate_Involvement.docx - l - Lost updated 03 /24120