Policy Highlight - Workplace Threats & Violence Policy (4/20/2010)

 WORKPLACE THREATS AND VIOLENCE POLICY

             Nothing is more important to Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 than the safety of its employees, students, clients and our visitors. Threats, intimidation/threatening behavior or acts of violence against these individuals by anyone on Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 property or service site utilized for the delivery of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 services will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy will lead to disciplinary action, which may include, but not be limited to, suspension, dismissal, arrest and prosecution.

             Threats, intimidation/threatening behavior, or acts of violence which include any aggressive statement or act, which results in emotional damage in the form of fear, worry or anxiety, physical injury or death need to be reported.

             All Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 personnel are responsible for notifying their immediate supervisor who in turn, where appropriate, shall notify the Director of Human Resources & Research Services or in his/her absence, the Assistant Executive Director, of any threats which they have witnessed, received, or have been told that another person has witnessed or received. All other persons shall notify the Director of Human Resources & Research Services or the Assistant Executive Director of any threats which they have witnessed, received, or have been told that another person has witnessed or received. Even without an actual threat, personnel and all others must also report any behavior they have witnessed or heard about which they regard as threatening or aggressive or violent when that behavior is job related or might be carried out on a Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 property or service site, or is connected to Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 employment. Employees and all others are responsible for making this report regardless of the relationship between the individual who initiated the threat or threatening behavior and the person or persons who were threatened or were the focus of the threatening behavior.

             Any employee or other person who makes a substantial threat, exhibits threatening behavior, or engages in violent acts which create immediate danger to others on Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 property or service site utilized for the delivery of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 services shall be required to leave the premises immediately, and shall remain off Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 premises pending the outcome of an investigation. Failure of an employee or other person to leave the premises immediately will result in police notification. Failure of an employee to leave the premises immediately may also result in a recommendation to the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Board of School Directors for termination. An investigation will lead to a written response and may include recommendation of reassignment of job duties, suspension or termination of employment, criminal prosecution, or suspension and/or termination of any business relationship.

             All employees who apply for or obtain a protective or restraining order which lists company locations as being protected areas, must provide to the Director of Human Resources and Research Services a copy of the petition and declarations used to seek the order, a copy of any temporary protective or restraining order which is granted, and a copy of any protective or restraining order which is made permanent.

             No existing Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 policy, practice, or procedure should be interpreted to prohibit decisions designed to prevent a threat from being carried out, a violent act from occurring or a life- threatening situation from developing.

             Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 understands the sensitivity of any information requested and will work to respect the privacy of the reporting individual(s) throughout the investigation process.

 DATE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED: August 23, 2000