Workplace Violence Prevention Program and Policy

Olympia HR

Does anyone out there have a program and/or policy on Workplace Violence and Prevention they can share? There are currently issues going on at our workplace that HR needs to address quickly. Pls. send any sample programs and policies to my e-mail address [email]cdirito@intercitytransit.com[/email] or my fax #360-357-6184.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

System

If you're an [link:www.hrhero.com/benefits.shtml|Employment Law Center member] in your state, you can access this HR Executive Special Report free on HRhero.com:

Workplace Violence & Employer Liability
[url]http://www.hrhero.com/special.shtml#violence[/url]

If not, the report is also available for $47. If you decide to purchase it, request on the online order form that we e-mail you the pdf version of the report so you can access it immediately, or call us at 800/274-6774.

Christy Reeder
Website Managing Editor
[url]www.HRhero.com[/url]

System

Here's another resource (a web page on OSHA's website) from an article on HRhero.com:

[url]http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/index.html[/url]

Christy Reeder
Website Managing Editor
[url]www.HRhero.com[/url]

Dottie

Our workplace violence policy is spelled out in our employee handbook. It stipulates first of all that our company has a "zero tolerance policy against workplace violence." It then goes on to specify that acts of intimidation, threat of violence or act of violence committed against any person on the property is prohibited. We give concrete examples of each of these forms of workplace violence. We state that any employee found to be in violation of this zero tolerance standard will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal. The second part of our policy gives employees definite avenues to report such incidents, whether he/she is the victim or a witness. We also make it the responsibility of any employee with our company to report any acts of workplace violence that he/she may witness. In the end, we explain to our employees that all reports will be investigated promptly and confidentially, except where there is a need to know to effect a solution. We have only had two such incidents, so far. In neither situation was anyone hurt. In the first instance several employees had witnessed the threats and behavior. In the second, only one employee (an elderly female) had been the brunt of the threats, so corroboration was a problem. The employee in question had been witnessed at other times screaming and using foul language because he was angry. Our attorney advised us that concern for the safety of our employees "trumped" any concern we should have regarding a suit by the employee in question, so we terminated him. Any time we terminate an employee in this type of circumstance, we do so in a secure situation with everyone concerned on high alert in case the individual reacts poorly. Once he/she has been escorted from the property, we alert the necessary staff to be aware that if s/he would show up at the property, the police should be called immediately. So far, so good! Hope this helps.