Crime Prevention Crime Prevention VIOLENCE IN THE VIOLENCE IN THE

WORKPLACEWORKPLACE

©This TCLEOSE approved Crime Prevention Curriculum is the property of CSCS-ICJS CRIME PREVENTION II

Institute for Criminal Justice Studies

Part IIPart II

How to Handle a How to Handle a Potentially Violent Potentially Violent

SituationSituation

Handling Violent SituationsHandling 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, non-confrontational approach

Handling Violent SituationsHandling Violent Situations

• Take all threats seriously

• Familiarize yourself with the resources available

• Seek immediate assistance if the situation escalates

If It’s an If It’s an EmergencyEmergency Situation 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 It’s an If It’s an EmergencyEmergency Situation Situation

• 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

Examples of Violence in the Examples of Violence in the WorkplaceWorkplace

Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Stalking, and

Workplace ViolenceWorkplace Violence

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

is is emotional abuse, , physical abuse, or sexual abuse between people who have, at some time, had an intimateintimate or or familyfamily relationship. relationship.

Source: www.findcounseling.comSource: www.findcounseling.com

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Examples ofExamples of Emotional AbuseEmotional 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

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Examples ofExamples of Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse

• 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

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Examples ofExamples of Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse

• Threatens to kidnap the children when angry

• Manipulates with lies and contradictions

Domestic Violence Examples of Physical 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

Domestic Violence Examples of Physical Abuse

• Locks a person out of the house

• Abandons a person in dangerous places

• Refuses to help when a person is sick, injured, or pregnant

Domestic Violence Examples of Physical Abuse

• Forces a person off the road or drives recklessly

• Threatens to hurt a person with a weapon

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceExamples of Sexual AbuseExamples 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

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceExamples of Sexual AbuseExamples of Sexual Abuse

• Withholds sex and affection

• Forces sex after physical abuse or when a person is sick

• Rapes a person

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceExamples of Sexual AbuseExamples of Sexual Abuse

• 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

StalkingStalking

There are two broad categories of There are two broad categories of stalkingstalking..

Unwanted Unwanted pursuitpursuit by a by a strangerstranger

Unwanted pursuit by Unwanted pursuit by someone the someone the victimvictim knows knows

Signs of Possible VictimizationSigns of Possible Victimization

Frequent or Frequent or unplanned leaveunplanned leave

Change in jobChange in jobperformanceperformance

Unexplained bruises Unexplained bruises or injuriesor injuries

Sudden change of Sudden change of addressaddress

DepressionDepression

Eating disordersEating disorders Self neglectSelf neglect Panic attacksPanic attacks AnxietyAnxiety Drug and alcoholDrug and alcohol

dependencedependence

Employer Reaction and SupportEmployer Reaction and Support

ConfirmationConfirmation that the threat that the threat existsexists

Foster a Foster a supportivesupportive workplace workplace climateclimate

Thoughtfully Thoughtfully encourageencourage co- co-worker disclosureworker disclosure

Staff Staff trainingtraining

Employer Reaction and SupportEmployer Reaction and Support (continued)

EvaluateEvaluate the threat the threat

Create an Create an interventiointervention plann plan

Notify and involve Notify and involve lawlaw enforcementenforcement

Keep in close Keep in close contactcontact with the with the victimvictim

Employer Reaction and Support (continued)

Make referralsMake referrals

Learn whether Learn whether courtcourt ordersorders have been obtainedhave been obtained

Allow for time off for victimAllow for time off for victim

Employer Reaction and Support (continued)

Review and Review and modifymodify work spaces work spaces

Be Be mindfulmindful of privacy of privacy

Notify other employees as Notify other employees as appropriateappropriate

Employee Assistance Program Employee Assistance Program ServicesServices

Can provide information on Can provide information on traumatictraumatic events to the employer events to the employer and its employeesand its employees

Can provide Can provide counselingcounseling services services to victimto victim

Can assist in Can assist in analyzinganalyzing the the situation and developing strategiessituation and developing strategies

Ways to Prevent Ways to Prevent Workplace Violence Workplace Violence

When Terminating anWhen Terminating anEmployeeEmployee

Performance AppraisalsPerformance Appraisals

Always give Always give honest honest and direct and direct performance measurementsperformance measurements

Explain, discuss, and Explain, discuss, and documentdocument poor performancepoor performance

Provide Provide trainingtraining to strengthen to strengthen problem areasproblem areas

Unsatisfactory PerformanceUnsatisfactory Performance

Address Address unsatisfactory unsatisfactory performance as it occursperformance as it occurs

Be Be honesthonest

Choose Choose retrainingretraining and internal and internal placement if possibleplacement if possible

During the Termination ProcessDuring the Termination Process

CarefullyCarefully review the review the employee’s employee’s personnelpersonnel

background. There is rarely a background. There is rarely a good time to be let go.good time to be let go.

Termination ProcessTermination Process Prepare and PlanPrepare and Plan

Who will Who will conductconduct the exit the exit interview? interview?

Who should Who should witnesswitness the the meeting? meeting?

How will the remaining How will the remaining staffstaff be be told? told?

During the Termination Process During the Termination Process Prepare and PlanPrepare and Plan

What about the What about the employee’semployee’s personal possessions?personal possessions?

Will anyone in the company Will anyone in the company react react emotionallyemotionally??

Will there be an extra Will there be an extra workloadworkload??

During the Termination MeetingDuring the Termination Meeting

Provide a Provide a writtenwritten script script

RoleRole play beforehand play beforehand

Keep it Keep it briefbrief

During the Termination Meeting (continued)

Design and choose a Design and choose a specificspecific placeplace

Do not use your Do not use your officeoffice

Consider Closed Circuit Consider Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and a Television (CCTV) and a panic panic button button

During the Termination Meeting (continued)

• Have an Have an exitexit predetermined predetermined • Ensure Ensure securitysecurity is available if is available if necessarynecessary

After the Termination MeetingAfter the Termination Meeting

Collect Collect keyskeys

Severance Severance paypay

Continue Continue medicalmedical benefits benefits and other assistance and other assistance programsprograms

After the Termination MeetingAfter the Termination Meeting

Separation agreementSeparation agreement

Be Be respectfulrespectful in front of in front of other employeesother employees

Allow employee to Allow employee to retrieveretrieve his/her personal effectshis/her personal effects

After the Termination Meeting(continued)

Answer follow-up questions Answer follow-up questions promptlypromptly

Resist the urge to return Resist the urge to return threatsthreats

Offer Offer supportsupport; disarm anger ; disarm anger by listening and showing by listening and showing empathy empathy

Safety Tips in Safety Tips in the Workplacethe Workplace

Safety Tips in the WorkplaceSafety Tips in the Workplace Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or

other valuables with you at all times or locked in a drawer or closet.

Check the identity of any strangers who are in your office.

Don’t stay late if you’ll be alone in the office.

Safety Tips in the WorkplaceSafety Tips in the Workplace

Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit corridors, broken windows, and doors that don’t lock properly.

If you notice signs of potential violence in a fellow employee, report this to the appropriate person.

Safety Tips in the Workplace(continued)

Immediately report any incidents of sexual harassment to your supervisor and/or human resources department.

If the company does not supply an emergency kit, keep your own emergency supplies.

Safety Tips in the Workplace(continued)

Avoid using out-of-the-way corridors and stairwells when you’re alone.

Physical Physical

SecuritySecurity

Physical SecurityPhysical Security

Exterior Access ControlExterior Access Control

Property Property borderborder

ParkingParking lot lot

Entrance Entrance doorsdoors

Gates, fencing, Gates, fencing, guardsguards, , CCTV, alarm systemCCTV, alarm system

Physical Security Physical Security (continued)(continued)

Interior Access ControlInterior Access Control

Main entranceMain entrance

Main lobbyMain lobby

High High securitysecurity areas areas

Locked doors, enclosed Locked doors, enclosed counters, bulletproof glass, CCTV, counters, bulletproof glass, CCTV, guards, cash handling procedures, guards, cash handling procedures, etc.etc.

Physical Security Physical Security (continued)(continued)

Be PreparedBe Prepared

Emergency Emergency plan(s)plan(s)

Code Code word(s)word(s)

SafeSafe rooms rooms

Individual responsibilities definedTrain staff and test plan

Physical Security Physical Security (continued)(continued)

Be Prepared – ContinuedBe Prepared – Continued

Electronic Electronic doordoor access card access card

Key Key controlcontrol

UnmarkedUnmarked parking spaces parking spaces

TEAM PRACTICAL EXERCISETEAM PRACTICAL EXERCISE • TEAM I: Primary elements of effective

workplace violence prevention.

• TEAM II: Four types of violence and three levels of violence.

• TEAM III” Handling Violent Situations, Domestic Violence & Stalking

• TEAM IV: Appraisals & Termination

• TEAM V: Safety Tips & Physical Security

Resources: WebsitesResources: Websites

• Occupational Safety and Health Act www.osha.gov

• Workplace Solutions www.wps.org

• National Center for Victims of Crime www.ncvc.org

• Free Management Library www.managementhelp.org/emp_well/violence.htm

Resources: DocumentsResources: Documents

• Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Guidelines, ASIS International, September 2005

www.asisonline.org/guidelines/guidelineswpvfinal.pdf

• USDA Handbook on Workplace Violence Prevention and Response, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1998

www.usda.gov/news/pubs/violence/wpv.htm

• Workplace Violence Issues in Response, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Critical Incident Response Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2002

www.fbi.gov/publications/violence.pdf

Resources: PublicationsResources: Publications

• Office of Personnel Management, Dealing with Workplace Violence, A Guide for Agency Planners, February 1998.

• Defense Personnel Security Research Center, Private Sector Liaison Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Combating Workplace Violence, Guidelines for Employees and Law Enforcement, July 1994.

• Kenneth Wolf et al, Helping the Employee Recover From the Trauma of Workplace Violence, EAP Digest, March 4, 1994.

• Department of the Air Force, Violence in the Workplace Intervention Handbook, December 1995.

The National Crime Prevention The National Crime Prevention CouncilCouncil

2345 Crystal DriveFifth Floor

Arlington, VA 22202202-466-6272

FAX 202-296-1356www.ncpc.org

Used with permission from Tom Carney,North Miami Beach Police Department and Business Health Services

Presenter Contact Information

I NSTI TUTE CR I M I NAL JUSTICE STUDI ESCen ter Safe Com m u n ities & Sch oo ls

TEX AS STATE UNI VERSI TY

I NSTI TUTE CR I M I NAL JUSTICE STUDI ESCen ter Safe Com m u n ities & Sch oo ls

TEX AS STATE UNI VERSI TY

350 N. Guadalupe, Suite 140, PMB 164San Marcos, Texas 78666.

877-304-2727 www.cscs.txstate.edu