Workplace Violence

Southwest Care Center is strongly committed to providing a safe workplace. The purpose of this policy is to minimize the risk of personal injury to team members and damage to Organization and personal property.

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Southwest Care Center does not expect team members to become experts in psychology or to physically subdue a threatening or violent individual. Indeed, Southwest Care Center specifically discourages team members from engaging in any physical confrontation with a violent or potentially violent individual. However, Southwest Care Center does expect and encourage team members to exercise reasonable judgment in identifying potentially dangerous situations.

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Experts in the mental health profession state that prior to engaging in acts of violence, troubled individuals often exhibit one or more of the following behaviors or signs: over-resentment, anger and hostility; extreme agitation; making ominous threats such as bad things will happen to a particular person, or a catastrophic event will occur; sudden and significant decline in work performance; irresponsible, irrational, intimidating, aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior; reacting to questions with an antagonistic or overtly negative attitude; discussing weapons and their use, and/or brandishing weapons in the workplace; overreacting or reacting harshly to changes in Organization policies and procedures; personality conflicts with co-workers; obsession or preoccupation with a co- worker or supervisor; attempts to sabotage the work or equipment of a co-worker; blaming others for mistakes and circumstances; or demonstrating a propensity to behave and react irrationally.

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Prohibited Conduct

Threats, threatening language or any other acts of aggression or violence made toward or by any Organization team member WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. For purposes of this policy, a threat includes any verbal or physical harassment or abuse, any attempt at intimidating or instilling fear in others, menacing gestures, flashing of weapons, stalking or any other hostile, aggressive, injurious or destructive action undertaken for the purpose of domination or intimidation. To the extent permitted by law, team members and visitors are prohibited from carrying weapons onto Organization premises.

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Procedures for Reporting a Threat

All potentially dangerous situations, including threats by co-workers, should be reported immediately to any member of management with whom the team member feels comfortable. Reports of threats may be maintained confidential to the extent maintaining confidentiality does not impede Southwest Care Center's ability to investigate and respond to the complaints. All threats will be promptly investigated. All team members must cooperate with all investigations. No team member will be subjected to retaliation, intimidation or disciplinary action as a result of reporting a threat in good faith under this policy.

If the Organization determines, after an appropriate good faith investigation, that someone has violated this policy, the Organization will take swift and appropriate corrective action.

 

If the team member is the recipient of a threat made by an outside party, that team member should follow the steps detailed in this section. It is important for the Organization to be aware of any potential danger in its offices. Indeed, the Organization wants to take effective measures to protect everyone from the threat of a violent act by team members or by anyone else.