Version 4 - Updated on January 22, 2010
REVISED GROUP RULES. PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING.
The following Group Rules have been designed to make sure Linked:HR remains professional, vibrant, and useful for all Group Members. Their main objectives are:
- Maximize the quality of the Group content.
- Ensure the safety of Members.
- Make sure Discussions are used for “Discussions” ONLY, that is for non-commercial questions & topics that can generate Member participation.
- Maximize networking opportunities for Recruiters and Job Seekers.
- Organize a flow of information.
Since there will always be some gray areas for such Rules, Linked:HR Moderation team have all freedom to interpret the Rules, so that the objectives mentioned above are achieved. Please feel free to use the Comments area to share your support, ideas, suggestions, or any concern you may have.
RULE #1: ALL POSTINGS MUST BE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.
The common language of our multinational Group is English. In addition, postings which are not written in English cannot be monitored by our Moderators.
RULE #2: POSTINGS MUST BE RELATED TO HUMAN RESOURCES.
This is a Group focusing on HR: Postings must be clearly related to human resources. General networking conversations unrelated to HR should be held in the “Live Networking” Subgroup.
RULE #3: BE KIND, POLITE, AND RESPECTFUL OF OTHER MEMBERS.
This is a professional forum. It is unacceptable to post or send unprofessional, abusive, aggressive, insulting, or otherwise inappropriate messages. Substantiated complaints will result in the author being removed and blocked from the Group.
RULE #4: INVITATIONS TO CONNECT ARE NOT ALLOWED, EXCEPT IN THE “LIVE NETWORKING” SUBGROUP.
The “Live Networking” SubGroup was created to allow Members to network openly. Invitations to connect are not permitted anywhere else in the Group. The “Live Networking” Subgroup is also the appropriate location for non-HR related conversations/debates.
RULE #5: DO NOT MOVE ANY DISCUSSIONS TO JOBS UNLESS YOU ARE ITS AUTHOR.
Moderators receive complaints daily from authors of Discussions that have been moved to Jobs. Most of the time, these are the result of a mistake. It creates unnecessary work for Group Managers, since they are the only ones who can move back postings. If you know of a Discussion or Job that has been moved by mistake, please send the URL of the posting to Linked:HR Group Management team so that it can be moved back. Beware! When a Discussion is moved to Jobs, the name of the Member who has moved the Discussion is recorded. Members who use the Move feature to “kill” Discussions will be removed and blocked.
RULE #6: PROMOTIONS OF PRODUCTS & SERVICES (EVEN WHEN FREE) ARE NOT ALLOWED, EXCEPT IN THE “MARKETPLACE” SUBGROUP.
The “Marketplace” SubGroup was created to allow Members to find the products or services they are looking for. This is the right place (and only place) to promote products and services (even when free), websites, LinkedIn Groups, and business opportunities. Marketplace Discussions Search tool makes it easy for buyers to find products and services.
Market research requests cannot be differentiated from Promotions of Products and Services and are permitted only in the “Marketplace” Subgroup or in the NEWS area of the Group.
RULE #7: USE THE NEWS SECTION FOR ALL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
The Group/SubGroup NEWS Sections are the only place for announcements, including NEWS articles, blog promotions, group announcements, and press releases. LinkedIn will ask you for a URL for your announcement. If you don’t have a webpage for your NEWS, you will need to create one. If LinkedIn doesn’t accept your URL, please contact your webmaster.
RULE #8: SPAM MESSAGES AND POSTINGS ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.
Forbidden spamming include:
- Sending multiple unsolicited messages to Group Members. Substantiated complaints will result in the spammer being removed and blocked from the Group.
- Posting the same Discussion or NEWS repeatedly in order to promote a product, service, or company. Unfilled job openings, however, can be reposted up to twice per month.
- Posting commercial Comments in Discussions or Jobs – when such Comments have nothing to do with the Discussion.
- Posting Comments in one’s own Discussion for the sole purpose of making it go to the top of Discussions.
RULE #9: SPECIAL RULE FOR EVENTS.
Promotions of events are welcome on Linked:HR’s Event Calendar Subgroup (http://tinyurl.com/LinkedHREventCalendar).
FREE and NON-COMMERCIAL HR-related events (webinars, conferences, presentations, etc.) that have been pre-certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute (www.hrci.org) in the United States or another comparable accreditation board in other countries may be submitted to Linked:HR’s Manager for posting on Linked:HR Featured Events Calendar. Proof of certification is required. Posting on Linked:HR Featured Events Calendar is at the sole discretion of the Group Manager.
RULE #10: SPECIAL RULES FOR JOB SEEKERS, EMPLOYERS, AND JOB PORTALS.
LinkedIn allows only 25 pages of postings in Jobs (and a 14-day time limit). Let’s make sure there are ONLY job opportunities. Forbidden postings under the Jobs tabs include, and are not limited to Job Seeker postings (see important note below), Job Portal Ads (see important note below) partnership requests, MLM offers, job or resume coaching services, articles, blogs, or marketing or promotional notices of any kind.
The following Rules apply to all job postings:
- All jobs posted must include IN THE SUBJECT AREA the job title and location.
- All jobs posted must include IN THE DESCRIPTION AREA a summarized description, minimum candidate qualifications and contact information.
- Since Linkedin is a U.S. American organization, applicable U.S. labor laws must be observed. In most cases, American law does not allow employers to discriminate on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, national origin or disability. When in doubt, please consult your legal counsel.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR RECRUITERS AND EMPLOYERS: The Central Group’s JOBS area should only include HR related jobs. Recruiters are invited to use the JOB CENTER SubGroup to announce positions in other fields. This SubGroup has been designed to allow Job Seekers and Recruiters to network.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR JOB SEEKERS: Job Seekers are invited to advertise their availability and qualifications in The JOB CENTER SubGroup. By advertising their availability and qualifications in the SEARCHABLE Discussions of this SubGroup, Job Seekers increase their chances of been found. Clog-free Jobs tabs will allow Job Seekers to find more opportunities.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR JOB PORTAL MANAGERS: Job Portal managers MAY NOT advertise their services to employers in the JOBS area (use the “Marketplace” SubGroup instead). Job Portals MAY promote job openings as long the job description(s), location(s), and required qualifications are included in the posting. A simple announcement of a Job Portal (without a clear description of one or more job openings) is NOT permitted in the JOBS area.
RULE #11: SPECIAL RULES FOR BLOGS, ARTICLES, VIDEOS, & PODCASTS.
Blogs, Articles, Video feeds, and Podcasts are welcome in the NEWS Section. This section includes features (sharing, thumbs up, views counter, link to website) which are very beneficial in terms of viral marketing and SEO.
Links to Blogs, Articles, Video feeds, and Podcasts can be posted as a Discussion ONLY IF (1) the Discussion’s “Additional Details” summarize key elements of the item, (2) Members are invited to participate by posting Comments WITHIN the Linked:HR Discussion forum, and (3) the invitation to visit the blog or article url is discrete, i.e. placed after the author’s signature. The information provided in the “Additional Details” area of the posting should be reasonably “self contained,” allowing Members to comment on the question/topic WITHOUT having to visit the blog or click on the item url. Using a Discussion simply to advertise a blog or promote an Article/Video/Podcast is strictly forbidden.
RULE #12: SPECIAL RULES FOR RESEARCHERS.
Linked:HR welcomes research on the list as long as the following Rules are observed:
- Only HR-related research studies are allowed on Linked:HR.
- HR-related research studies which are NOT approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) should be posted in the NEWS area. This includes most polls and surveys.
- Market research studies (including website, product, and feedback requests; market analyses, competition analysis, etc.) should be submitted in the Marketplace Subgroup.
- HR-related research studies which ARE approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) may be posted in the Discussion area. Please submit a special request to the Group Manager including proof of IRB approval.
- The summary of findings for research studies conducted on Linked:HR must be posted on the Linked:HR Resource Page. Researchers are NOT allowed to require that Linked:HR members provide personal or contact information in order to access the research results.
RULE #13: BREAKING THESE RULES OR ANY OF LINKEDIN TERMS OF USE MAY LEAD TO MEMBER REMOVAL.
Members who break any of Linked:HR Group Rules or any of the LinkedIn User Agreement’s DOs and DON’Ts (see http://www.LinkedIn.com/static?key=user_agreement)will receive up to two reminders. If the same rule is broken three times, the Moderator may remove and block the infringing Member without additional notice. Members who gravely infringe Rules 3 or 8 or any of the LinkedIn Terms of Use are also subject to immediate removal without notice.
