Preventing Violence in the Workplace

1. Preventing Violence in the Workplace National Crime Prevention Council 2007

2. A portion of this presentation is provided by • Tom Carney North Miami Beach Police Department for the Florida Crime Prevention Association 16901 NE 19th Avenue North Miami, FL 33162 • Business Health Services 1-800-765-EAPS www.bhsonline.com National Crime Prevention Council

3. Goal of This Presentation Participants will learn about workplace violence, including legal issues, prevention, intervention, and response. National Crime Prevention Council

4. Presentation Objectives • Define workplace violence • Review The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 • Discuss the primary elements of a workplace violence prevention program and policy • Discuss pre-employment screening • Learn about negligent hiring and retention National Crime Prevention Council

5. Presentation Objectives (continued) • Identify the characteristics of employee disenchantment • Review stalking and workplace violence • Learn ways to prevent workplace violence during termination • Discuss the elements of crime prevention through environmental design • Examine the various aspects of physical security National Crime Prevention Council

6. It is estimated that nearly 25 percent of all workplace violence goes unreported.Source: Business Health Services National Crime Prevention Council

7. Definition of Workplace Violence Any act against an employee that creates a hostile work environment and negatively affects the employee, either physically or psychologically National Crime Prevention Council

8. Four Types of Workplace Violence The person who came to commit the crime • Has no relationship to the workplace • Is the recipient of a service • Has an employment relationship with a current or former employee • Has a personal relationship with a current or former employee Source: Workplace Violence: Issues in Response, U.S. DOJ, FBI National Crime Prevention Council

9. Why Be Concerned About Violence in the Workplace? • It makes sound business sense • Avoid exposure to litigation • Safety of employees National Crime Prevention Council

10. Financial Impact of Workplace Violence on American Businesses • Each year almost 1 million individuals become victims of violent crime while working. • About 500,000 victims of violent crime in the workplace lose an estimated 1.8 million work days each year. • The average cost to Amercian businesses each year is estimated to be $36 billion dollars. • Source:Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Prevention Council

11. Legal Issues Involved in Workplace Violence Lawsuits • Often lawsuits involve • Negligent hiring • Negligent retention • Negligent supervision • Inadequate security National Crime Prevention Council

12. Training Is the Key National Crime Prevention Council

13. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 National Crime Prevention Council

14. OSHA Guidelines • Not mandatory • Implementation reduces citations for violations of the General Duty Clause National Crime Prevention Council

15. Management Commitment Toward Employees • Zero-tolerance policy • Allocate sufficient resources • Develop a system of accountability • Provide medical and psychological counseling • Study trends and security measures • Implement training and educational programs National Crime Prevention Council

16. Excerpt From the National Crime Prevention Council’s Workplace Violence Guidelines “The National Crime Prevention Council maintains a zero-tolerance policy …” “Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment. Additionally, violations of this policy will also be reported to the appropriate authorities when warranted and therefore may be subject to civil and/or criminal charges or penalties.” National Crime Prevention Council

17. Excerpt From the National Crime Prevention Council’s Workplace Violence Guidelines (continued) “All NCPC associates should immediately report to management or Human Resources any threatening behavior that they witnessed, were subjected to, or of which they have knowledge. Human resources will investigate any suspected incident of violent or threatening behavior and take appropriate action. No associate shall be subject to retaliation or retribution of any kind for reporting a suspected incident of workplace violence.” National Crime Prevention Council

18. Primary Elements of anEffective WorkplaceViolence Prevention Program • Planning • Policies • Training • Physical Security National Crime Prevention Council

19. Basics of Planning • Threat assessment team • Assess current conditions • Establish and implement policies • Employee Assistance Program National Crime Prevention Council

20. Basics of Planning (continued) • Develop a training program • Prepare a crisis response plan • Test and improve the program on a regular basis National Crime Prevention Council

21. Basics of Policy • Periodic updates to policies • Review by legal counsel and insurance carrier • Review and update procedures to implement policies • Training on Policies and Procedures • Emphasize new and amended policies National Crime Prevention Council

22. Basics of Training • Review workplace violence policies • Implement and/or discuss your Employee Assistance Program • Practice effective pre-employment screening methods • Train management and employees National Crime Prevention Council

23. Basics of Training (continued) • Effective termination and layoff practices • Recognize and report potential workplace violence problems • Review crisis response plan National Crime Prevention Council

24. Basics of Physical Security • Conduct a threat assessment • Incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies National Crime Prevention Council

25. Pre-EmploymentScreeningandHiring National Crime Prevention Council

26. Pre-Employment Screening • Check references • Developed sources National Crime Prevention Council

27. Hiring and Retention • Look for warning signs • What is negligent hiring? • What are foreseeable circumstances? • What are propensities? National Crime Prevention Council

28. Hiring and Retention (continued) Current wisdom—give the barest of facts when contacted for job references versus “Affirmative duty” to disclose negative information National Crime Prevention Council

29. Factors Leading toWorkplace Violence • Employee Disenchantment • Absenteeism • Turnover • Three Levels of Violence • Aggressive Behavior National Crime Prevention Council

30. Employee Disenchantment Disenchanted employee is another term for disgruntled employee. This person may not be happy with his or her supervisor or with the job itself, or may be unhappy because of personal circumstances that have carried over to the workplace. A person who is disenchanted in the workplace could show the propensity toward workplace violence. National Crime Prevention Council

31. Employee Disenchantment (continued) • Employee disenchantment can result from • Confusion • Lack of trust • Office politics • Meaningless job • Employee not knowing if he or she is succeeding in his or her job performance • Boss takes credit for employee’s work National Crime Prevention Council

32. Absenteeism • Reasons for chronic absenteeism include • Conflict with management style • Working conditions • Employees’ relationships with one another • Personal problems • 75% of all absenteeism is relationship-based National Crime Prevention Council

33. The Three Levels of Violence National Crime Prevention Council

34. Levels of Violence: Level One • The employee • Refuses to cooperate with immediate supervisor • Spreads rumors and gossip • Consistently argues with co-workers or management • Is belligerent toward customers • Swears at others • Makes unwanted sexual comments National Crime Prevention Council

35. Levels of Violence: Level Two • The employee • Refuses to obey company policy • Sabotages equipment and steals property • Verbalizes wishes to hurt co-worker(s) or management • Writes sexually violent notes • Sees self as victimized by management National Crime Prevention Council

36. Levels of Violence: Level Three • The employee • Has suicidal thoughts • Has physical fights on the job • Uses weapons • Commits violent acts/crimes National Crime Prevention Council

37. in the Workplace Aggressive Behavior National Crime Prevention Council

38. Alarm Emotional Distress Anger Aggressive Workplace BehaviorInvolves • Fear • Intimidation • Capitulation • Punishment • Anxiety National Crime Prevention Council

39. Examples of Aggressive Workplace Behavior Include • Harassment (telephone, written, face-to-face) • Stalking • Threats • Inappropriate communications • Trespassing or returning to the workplace after being told to leave National Crime Prevention Council

40. Examples of Aggressive Workplace Behavior (continued) • Occupying or entering victim’s dwelling and/or vehicle • Falsely impersonating with an intent to harass • Making unwanted purchases in the victim’s name National Crime Prevention Council

41. How to Handle a Potentially Violent Situation National Crime Prevention Council

42. Handling Violent Situations • Familiarize yourself with your company’s policies and emergency procedures • Report any physical or verbal threats • Never touch the violent person • Use a calm, nonconfrontational approach • Take all threats seriously • Familiarize yourself with the resources available • Seek immediate assistance if the situation escalates National Crime Prevention Council

43. If It’s an Emergency Situation • Call 911 and building security personnel if you have them • Make sure to make the call using a phone that is out of the sight and hearing of the violent person • If you can, stay on the line until the police arrive • Do not intervene physically • Get yourself and others to a safe place as soon as possible National Crime Prevention Council

44. Examples of Violence in the Workplace Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Workplace Violence National Crime Prevention Council

45. Domestic Violence is emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse between people who have, at some time, had an intimate or family relationship. Source: www.findcounseling.com National Crime Prevention Council

46. Domestic Violence Examples ofEmotional Abuse Emotional abuse is when an abuser • Continuously criticizes, calls names, or shouts • Insults or drives friends or family away • Humiliates a person in private or public • Keeps a person from working, controls the money, or makes all the decisions • Refuses to work or to share money • Takes the car keys or money • Regularly threatens to leave or tells a person to leave • Threatens to kidnap the children when angry • Manipulates with lies and contradictions National Crime Prevention Council

47. Domestic Violence Examples ofPhysical Abuse Physical abuse is when an abuser • Pushes, shoves, kicks, or chokes • Holds a person down to keep them from leaving • Hits, slaps, or bites • Throws objects • Locks a person out of the house • Abandons a person in dangerous places • Refuses to help when a person is sick, injured, or pregnant • Forces a person off the road or drives recklessly • Threatens to hurt a person with a weapon National Crime Prevention Council

48. Domestic ViolenceExamples of Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is when an abuser • Minimizes the importance of a person’s feelings about sex • Criticizes a person sexually • Insists on unwanted or uncomfortable touching • Withholds sex and affection • Forces sex after physical abuse or when a person is sick • Rapes a person • Is jealously angry, assumes a person will have sex with anyone • Insists that a person dresses in a more sexual way than they want to National Crime Prevention Council

49. Stalking • There are two broad categories of stalking. • Unwanted pursuit by a stranger • Unwanted pursuit by someone the victim knows National Crime Prevention Council

50. Signs of Possible Victimization • Frequent or unplanned • leave • Change in job • performance • Unexplained bruises or • injuries • Sudden change of • address • Depression • Eating disorders • Self neglect • Panic attacks • Anxiety • Drug and alcohol • dependence National Crime Prevention Council