Agenda - Council - 03/13/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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For purposes of this policy, the following definitions will be used: Workplace Violence - The term "workplace violence" encompasses a wide range of behaviors that include, but is not limited to, any act of physical, verbal, or written aggression against an employee or customer of the City, or threats to inflict physical harm, or damages to property, family members of an employee, or any purposeful or knowing behavior which would cause a reasonable person to feel threatened by an employee or non -employee in the workplace. Workplace violence does not include reasonable force in the defense of oneself or others. Workplace violence also does not include the appropriate use of force or weapons by law enforcement officers or others acting lawfully to protect and defend life and property, effectuate an arrest or detainment, or other purposes for which law enforcement officers are authorized to use force. Threat - an expression by word or conduct of intent to commit violence that places the listener or reader in fear of imminent bodily harm or is of such character that another individual could be placed in fear of imminent bodily harm. The overall context of statement, including non-verbal communications will be taken into account to determine if such an expression is a threat covered by this rule. Employee Responsibilities Employees are expected to treat co-workers, citizens, and property with respect. No employee is permitted to commit or threaten violence against another employee or customer of the City. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to, physical abuse, verbal threats to inflict physical harm, vandalism, arson, and use of weapons. Employees are not permitted to bring a weapon into the City workplace or onto City property unless the weapon is required to fulfill the employee's job duties, such as those of a police officer. City employees should not ignore violent, threatening, harassing, intimidating, or other disruptive behavior. If anyone on the City premises displays such behavior, regardless of whether he/she is a City employee, such behavior should be reported immediately to the employee's supervisor. Employees are responsible for making the report regardless of the relationship between the individual who initiated the threat or threatening behavior and the person(s) who was threatened or who was the focus of the threatening behavior. Employees shall be alerted to and immediately report suspicious or threatening behavior and incidents of workplace violence to their supervisor and should contact 911 in the case of an immediate serious threat or crime. In the event of imminent danger to persons or property, employees shall always take action to safeguard persons or property before making a formal report. Except as noted above, reports shall be made as soon as possible after a threat or act of workplace violence — preferably within 4-6 hours, or sooner if reasonably able to do so. Even without an actual threat, employees shall report any behavior they have witnessed which they regard as threatening or violent. Employees who have identified City work locations as being protected for purposes of restraining or protective orders shall immediately notify their supervisor. The City understands the sensitivity of the information and will endeavor to handle the matter respectfully while also providing necessary notification and advance warning to fellow employees. 441Page Deleted: , or is approved by the Department Head or City Administrator