Welcome to FedYak, a dedicated online community exclusively for past, present, and future Federal Employees. Our platform is designed to foster meaningful connections, share professional experiences, discuss career insights, and build a supportive network among those who have served or are serving in federal roles. By participating, you agree to uphold these guidelines to ensure a safe, respectful, and productive environment for all members. These rules apply to all interactions, including posts, comments, messages, and any shared content.
FedYak is not affiliated with any federal agency, and all discussions should reflect personal opinions only, not official positions.
1. Eligibility and Membership
- Exclusive to Federal Employees: This community is strictly for individuals who are current, former, or future federal employees (including civilian, military, and contractors with direct federal ties). Verification may be required upon joining or at the moderators' discretion. Impersonating a federal employee or providing false information will result in immediate removal.
- Account Integrity: Do not create multiple accounts or impersonate others.
2. Privacy and Information Sharing
- No Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Do not share or request PII, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses (unless explicitly consented for professional networking), or any other data that could identify an individual without their permission. This includes PII of yourself, colleagues, or third parties.
- No Confidential or Sensitive Information: Prohibit the sharing of confidential, sensitive, classified, proprietary, or secret information, including but not limited to government documents, internal memos, trade secrets, or any material protected by law or agency policy. Violations may lead to legal consequences and will be reported if necessary.
- Data Protection: Respect privacy laws like the Privacy Act. If you suspect a breach, report it to moderators immediately.
3. Compliance with Laws and Policies
- Hatch Act Compliance: All members must abide by the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities for federal employees. Avoid using FedYak for partisan political advocacy, campaigning, or any actions that could violate these rules. Discussions on policy are allowed if neutral and respectful.
- No Illegal Activities: Do not promote, plan, or engage in illegal activities, including fraud, hacking, drug-related discussions (beyond legal contexts), or any criminal behavior. Such content will be removed, and we reserve the right to report it to relevant authorities, including law enforcement or federal agencies.
- Intellectual Property: Respect copyrights, trademarks, and intellectual property rights. Do not post content you don't own or have permission to share.
4. Respectful and Civil Discourse
- Be Polite and Respectful: Treat others with courtesy. Healthy discourse and differing opinions are encouraged, as they enrich our community, but they must remain civil. Avoid belittling, mocking, or derogatory language.
- No Harassment or Threats: Prohibit threats, bullying, stalking, doxxing, or any form of harassment based on race, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Hate speech, discrimination, or inflammatory content is not tolerated.
- No Defamation or Libel: Do not spread false information that could harm someone's reputation. Stick to facts and personal experiences.
- Content Moderation: Keep discussions professional and relevant to federal employment topics. Off-topic, inflammatory, or disruptive posts may be removed.
5. General Community Standards
- No Spam or Advertising: Avoid unsolicited promotions, self-promotion, affiliate links, or repetitive posting. Job postings or resource sharing must be relevant and approved by moderators if commercial in nature.
- Content Quality: Posts should be clear, concise, and contribute value. Avoid excessive profanity, graphic content, or anything that could be deemed NSFW (Not Safe For Work).
- Reporting and Self-Policing: If you see a violation, use the flag feature rather than engaging. Do not vigilante moderate—let the team handle it.
Enforcement and Consequences
- Moderation: Our team reviews reports and monitors activity. Violations may result in warnings, temporary suspensions, permanent bans, or content removal, depending on severity.
- Appeals: If you believe a decision was unfair, contact moderators with details for review.
- Changes to Guidelines: We may update these guidelines; continued use implies acceptance.
- Liability: FedYak is not responsible for user-generated content. Participate at your own risk.
By joining FedYak, you commit to these principles, helping create a trusted space for federal employees to thrive. For questions, suggestions, or to report issues, contact the moderation team via email at: staff@mg.fedyak.com. Let's build a positive community together!
