POLICY
It is the policy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to limit solicitation and distribution of literature in areas controlled or occupied by the Department. An employee may solicit other employees in non-work (e.g., break rooms, lunch areas, etc.) areas providing that all employees involved are on non-work time. “Passive solicitation” by the placement of a collection box or envelope for approved charities in appropriate public areas is permissible, with prior approval of the Director. Distribution of literature by employees is prohibited in areas owned or leased by the Department, except that literature announcing times and dates that the products or services will be available may be posted on the employee bulletin board. Solicitation by “e-mail” is not permitted and social or personal announcements must be authorized by the Director.
Exceptions to this are State sanctioned charity drives such as the Combined Charitable Campaign, Operation Feed, etc. At the Director’s discretion, money may be raised to benefit individual employees or other established charities. Examples include collections to purchase retirement gifts or work related recognition events, school-related student fundraisers, funeral flowers and donations to assist a fellow employee with family or medical hardship or to support employee recognition awards.
The distribution or circulation of political information or petitions on State own/leased property on state time is prohibited. (See Political Activity Policy).
No employee should solicit a vendor, retail store, restaurant or other such private entity with whom the Department does business to donate food or other items in conjunction with Department sponsored or related activities.
DEFINITIONS
- Solicitation is any activity conducted for the purpose of advertising, promoting or selling any product or service or encouraging membership in any group, association or organization
- Non-work time includes approved lunch periods, breaks and any time before or after scheduled work time.
- “Approved charity” means a not-for profit organization which the Director has authorized for solicitation activities.
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