FedYak Community Guidelines

Welcome to FedYak, the central hub for federal employees and aspiring federal workers to connect, share, and grow. Our community is built on mutual respect, collaboration, and bipartisanship, providing a safe and resourceful space for all members. To ensure FedYak remains a positive and productive environment, we ask all members to follow these guidelines:

1. Eligibility

Age Requirement: FedYak is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. This ensures our community complies with applicable laws and maintains a mature environment for professional discussions.

2. Be Respectful and Kind

Treat all members with respect, regardless of their background, opinions, or employment status. We value diverse perspectives and encourage constructive dialogue.
Harassment, bullying, discrimination, or any form of abusive behavior will not be tolerated. This includes personal attacks, offensive language, or targeting individuals based on race, gender, religion, political beliefs, or any other protected characteristic.
Keep discussions professional and supportive, even when disagreements arise. Disagree respectfully and focus on the issue, not the person.

3. Bipartisanship is Key

FedYak is a bipartisan community. We welcome members of all political affiliations and expect discussions to remain neutral and focused on federal service, workplace issues, and professional growth.
Avoid partisan rhetoric, political campaigning, or divisive language that could undermine the inclusive nature of our forum. Unlike platforms like Reddit or Facebook, FedYak prioritizes unity and collaboration over polarization.

4. Protect Privacy and Confidentiality

Do not share personal information that could compromise your safety or privacy, such as home addresses, phone numbers, or sensitive personal details.
Do not share prohibited or classified information. As federal employees or aspirants, you are responsible for adhering to all applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies regarding sensitive or classified materials. Sharing such information is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal from the community.
When discussing workplace matters, use discretion and avoid sharing identifiable details about colleagues, supervisors, or specific cases unless they are publicly available and relevant to the discussion.

5. Keep Content Relevant and Resourceful

Share content that contributes to the community’s mission of growth, support, and awareness. This includes career advice, federal workplace insights, resources for job seekers, and discussions about policies or issues affecting federal employees.
Avoid off-topic posts, spam, or promotional content unrelated to the federal workforce. If you’re unsure whether a post is appropriate, consider how it aligns with FedYak’s purpose.

6. No Harassment or Abuse

Any form of harassment, including but not limited to trolling, doxxing, or targeted abuse, will result in immediate action, including warnings, temporary suspensions, or permanent bans, depending on the severity.
Report any abusive behavior to the moderators using the forum’s reporting tools. We are committed to addressing issues promptly and fairly.

7. Follow Forum Etiquette

Stay on topic: Create posts and comments that align with the thread’s subject matter.
Use clear titles: When starting a new discussion, use descriptive and concise titles to help others understand the topic.
Avoid duplicate posts: Check if a similar topic already exists before creating a new thread.
Respect the platform: Do not engage in activities that could harm the forum, such as posting malicious links, bots, or content that violates Flarum’s terms of service.

8. Moderation and Enforcement

Our moderators are here to ensure a safe and welcoming environment. They have the authority to remove content, issue warnings, or ban users who violate these guidelines.
If you disagree with a moderation decision, you may appeal by contacting the moderation team through the designated process outlined in the forum’s help section.
Repeated or severe violations may result in temporary or permanent removal from the community.

9. Give Back to the Community

FedYak thrives on the contributions of its members. Share your knowledge, offer support, and engage in discussions that uplift and empower others.
Together, we can create a community that reflects the values of service, professionalism, and collaboration that define federal employees.

10. Platform-Specific Notes

FedYak is built on Flarum, and all users must comply with Flarum’s terms of service in addition to these guidelines.
If you encounter technical issues or have suggestions for improving the forum, please use the designated feedback channels.

Reporting Violations

If you see content or behavior that violates these guidelines, please report it to the moderators using the “Report” feature on the post or by contacting the moderation team directly. Your reports help us maintain a safe and productive community for everyone.

Updates to Guidelines

These guidelines may be updated periodically to reflect the evolving needs of the FedYak community. Any changes will be communicated to members through the forum’s announcement section.

Together, we can make FedYak a thriving, respectful, and resourceful community for federal employees and aspirants. Let’s give back what we put in!