Workplace Violence

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Workplace Violence
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Outline

• Knowledge Test
• Definitions and 4 Categories
• Primary Goals of WPV Training
• Top Ten Supervisor Pitfalls
• Warning Signs

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Second Chances is a private, non-profit
residential rehabilitation facility for teenagers
who have been released from juvenile detention.
Many of the teens have been severe psychological
and substance abuse problems. Counselors meet
with teenagers in private and group sessions.
During these sessions, the counselor is the only
adult in the room. Usually, another employee
waits outside the treatment room.
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Based only on the description provided, which
risk factors of WPV apply to the counselors?

• Guarding valuable property or possessions.
• Working alone or in small numbers
• Exchange of Money
• Working with unstable or volatile persons.

5
Warning signs always precede an act of WPV.

• True
• False

6
Discrimination and sexual harassment are issues
that have nothing to do with WPV.

• True
• False

7
Intimidation and harassment are not WPV.

• True
• False

8
People who commit workplace violence may be
driven to do so because of personal problems at
home.

• True
• False

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Two WPV Definitions

• WPV is any physical assault, threatening
  behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work
  setting

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Two WPV Definitions

• WPV is now recognized as a specific category of
  violent crime that calls for distinct responses
  from employees, law enforcement, and the
  community.

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4 Categories of WPV

• Type 1 Violent acts by criminals who have no
  other connection with the workplace, but enter to
  commit robbery or another crime.
• Type 2 Violence directed at employees by
  customers, clients, patients, students, inmates,
  or any other for whom an organization provides
  services

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Cont

• Type 3 Violence against co-worker, supervisor,
  or managers by a present or former employee.
• Type 4 Violence committed in the workplace by
  someone who doesnt work there, but has a
  personal relationship with an employee.

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Primary Goals of WPV Training

• To increase sensitivity and awareness of the
  potential for violence in the workplace/School
  environment.
• To enable us to recognize the early warning signs
  of a potentially violent person and/or situation.

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Cont

• To provide some key elements to aid supervisors
  and others in dealing with situations involving
  the potential of violence.
• To provide information to encourage the reporting
  of suspicious incidents through the right
  channels.

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Top Ten Supervision Pitfalls to Avoid

• Discounting or ignoring threats
• Failing to have security personnel nearby when
  threat of violence appears to be genuine
• Allowing the supervisor who is a possible victim
  to conduct the interview with the alleged
  perpetrator.

• Avoiding suspension of an individual pending the
  investigation, because you are afraid of the
  consequences.
• Use of confrontational behavior.
• Neglecting communication with employees who need
  to know of possible threats or pending danger,
  after the threat has been determined to be real.

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Top Ten Supervision Pitfalls to Avoid

• Disregarding crisis outline procedure.
• Acting on impulse and terminating employee on the
  spot, without conducting an investigation or
  following the key steps of disciplinary action.

• Being manipulated by the perpetrator or employee
  into allowing extra latitude, permitting lower
  standards or accepting inappropriate behavior.
• When seeking a restraining order, failing to warn
  potential victim of possible violence, so they
  can take extra precautions.

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Warning Signs

• Intimidating, belligerent, harassing, bullying,
  or other inappropriate and aggressive behavior

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Warning Signs

• Dramatic behavior or personality change. Sudden
  hostility
• Direct or veiled threats of harm

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Warning Signs

• Bringing weapon to the workplace or inappropriate
  references to guns

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Warning Signs

• Numerous conflicts with supervisors and other
  employees

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Warning Signs

• Approval of use of violence to resolve a problem

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Warning Signs

• Statements of fascination with workplace violence
  incidents

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Warning Signs

• Drug / alcohol abuse

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Warning Signs

• Statements indicating desperation
• Family, financial or personal problems
• To the point of contemplating suicide

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Questions