Although we support employee’s participation in the political process outside of work, it is important to engage with patients in a politically unbiased manner and to make all patients and visitors feel welcome. Employees should follow these basic guidelines when engaging in any political activity:
- Do not refer to the Hospital or Clinic as your employer or to your position here when participating in political activity.
- Clearly state that your views are your own and do not represent the Hospital/Clinic.
- Do not use Hospital/Clinic resources to prepare political materials or distribute political statements or information.
Real-world scenario
Q: I have a good friend that is running for a political office and I want to support him/her. Can I distribute information about the candidate to other co-workers through email or internal mail?
A: No. Although you are encouraged to participate in the political process, you cannot use Hospital/Clinic resources to do so. You cannot give the impression you are speaking on behalf of the Hospital/Clinic.
.
McAfee &Taft provides this complimentary monthly compliance checkup as a resource for compliance officers and others filling a compliance role — something that can easily be forwarded to employees, with or without modification, for compliance program training. These include a provision similar to a typical compliance program with a typical scenario/question and the resolution/answer.
Image credit: Getty Images
