WORKPLACE VIOLENCE SEMINAR

SEATTLE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD ASSOCIATES

PROGRAM

Update 3/9/1999

TARGET AUDIENCE

• SUPERVISORS (MID LEVEL)

• EMPLOYEES

• HR PERSONNEL

• CONTRACT SPECIALIST

• SECURITY/SAFETY PERSONNEL

• FACILITY MANAGERS

SUBJECT MATTER

• Introduction

• Overview

• History

• Financial Perspective

• Causes

• Prevention

• Employment Process

SUBJECT MATTER CONT.

• Safe Workplace

• OSHA/Plans

• OSHA/Guidelines

• Termination

• Crisis Management

• Legal Considerations

• Resources

TIME/WORKLOAD

• Not more than one day

• Probably 3-5 Associates

• Multi-shop Application– Workplace Violence– Personal Safety– Home Security Surveys– Vendors

INTRODUCTION• DEFINITIONS

– WORKPLACE VIOLENCE - any incident in which an employer or employee is threatened, intimidated, physically or verbally attacked, harassed, injured or killed

– OCCUPATIONAL VIOLENCE - dangerous or unacceptable behavior that can be anticipated and for which similar preventative measures can be implemented

OVERVIEW

• EMPLOMENT RELATED ISSUES– job discontent– personal animosity

• REVENGE ATTACKS– domestic disputes

HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE

• SCOPE OF VIOLENCE AT WORK

• CASE HISTORIES

• DRAMATIC EVENTS

• RESEARCHING THE CAUSES

• SURVEY OF PUBLISHED LITERATURE

FINANCIAL IMPACT

• 1995 - $36 BILLION ANNUALLY– LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY– WORK DISRUPTIONS– EMPLOYEE TURN-OVER– LITIGATION– OTHER INCIDENT-RELATED COSTS– COSTS OF PREVENTION

CAUSES OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

• WORK ENVIROMENT

• MENTAL ILLNESS

• PRE-EXISTING BEHAVIORAL TENDACIES/CHARACTERISTICS

• JOB MARKET PRESSURES

CAUSES CONT.

• STRESS TRIGGERS– FINANCIAL– ENVIROMENTAL– FAMILY

• EVENT STRESS– DEATH/DIVORCE– ACCIDENTS/ILLNESS– WORK-RELATED

PREVENTION PROGRAM

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE– HR– EAP– EMPLOYEE BENEFITS– LEGAL– MEDICAL– SECURITY– PR

PREVENTION CONT.

• IDENTIFY STRESSORS

• COMPETENCE OF SUPERVISORS

• TRAINING

• TRENDS

• EMPLOYEES INTERVIEWS

• SECURITY

• REPORT TO MANAGEMENT

PREVENTION CONT.

• CORPORATE POLICY– WRITTEN POLICY STATEMENT– DEMONSTRATED MANAGEMNENT

SUPPORT– CONSISTENT APPLICATION

EMPLOYMENT PROCESS

• PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING

• PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

• USE OF CLINICIAN IN HR SCREENING

THE SAFE WORKPLACE

• EMPLOYEE TRAINING & AWARENESS

• IDENTIFYING & PREVENTING SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

• EARLY INTERVENTION

• DEFENSES AGAINST DANGEROUS PERSONS

OSHA GUIDELINES• SCOPE OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

• TYPES OF VIOLENCE EVENTS

• PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

• RECORDING/REPORTING EVENTS

• HANDLING COMPLAINTS

• INVESTIGATING

• ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYEES

OSHA CONT.

• OSHA MODEL PLAN

• OSHA HEALTH CARE GUIDELINES

TERMINATION PROCESS

• Do not negotiate

• Cite general Vs Specific issues

• Keep Discussion future-based

• Who should be present

• Who should not be present

• How to respond to threats

• Out-placement services

CRISIS MANAGEMENT• Planning & Preparedness

• Roles of key players

• Training

• Emergency Equipment

• Sample Plan

• Post Traumatic Stress

• Dealing with the Press

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Duty to warn

• Liabilities as employer

• Injuries to third party

• Negligent Hiring

• Worker Compensation

• Private Industry Vs Government

• Protective Court Orders

SUMMARY

• PROVIDE REFERENCE LIST

• PROVIDE RESOURCE LIST

QUESTIONS???