Workplace Violence

What is included in "Sexual Nature"

*Includes comments (verbal or written) about:* - Clothing - Behavior - A person's body - Sexual jokes - Sexual favors - Repeatedly asking a person out - Sexual innuendoes - Rumors about a person's sex life - Sexual emails or texts *Also includes physical aspects:* - Assault - Impeding or blocking movement - Inappropriate touch (of a person or clothing) - Kissing - Hugging - Patting - Stroking

Distress signs

- Direct or veiled threats of harm - Intimidating, belligerent, or other aggressive behavior - Numerous conflicts with other employees - Talk of weapons/violence - Statements indicating desperation (including family, financial or other personal problems) to the point of contemplating suicide - Drug or alcohol abuse - Extreme changes in behavior - Hostility, aggression, violence - Garbled or slurred speech - Loss of contact with reality - Suicidal thoughts with plans or methods - Homicidal thoughts

How to respond to harassment

- If you are comfortable, ask the harasser to stop. - If you are not comfortable, get help from somebody else. - Document all incidents

Nonverbal aspects of sexual nature

- Looking up and down a person's body - Derogatory gestures or facial expressions of a sexual nature - Following a person

Artifact aspects of sexual nature

- Posters - Drawings - Pictures - Emails or texts of a sexual nature

Quid pro quo can also occur in non-sexual situations that include protected personal characteristics such as:

- Race - Color - Religion - Age - National origin - Sex/pregnancy - Sexual orientation - Gender identity - Disability example: Raise if you go to church

Is workplace violence common?

-Workplace homicides have steadily decreased (397 in 2013; 1,068 in 1993) -Fed. Govt. reports that it costs billions of dollars each year. -In 2009 more than 137,000 workers were treated in ER's for nonfatal assaults -In 2009, 572,000 estimated nonfatal violent crimes

Who commits workplace violence?

1) Strangers 2) Customers 3) Co-workers 4) Personal relations

What is workplace violence

Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting.

How do you respond to a crisis?

Get away from the individual, call the police

Where does workplace violence occur

It includes buildings, parking lots, field locations, clients' locations, and traveling to and from work assignments.

Is welcomed conduct harassment?

No. if you are uncomfortable with anything, it is important to communicate your discomfort (If you are not comfortable communicating with the harasser you should seek help from someone else)

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment. Occurs in same-sex and cross-sex encounters.

Quid Pro Quo "this for that"

When a person in authority demands sexual favors for employment decisions or expectations. Examples include: - Demanding sexual favors for a raise - Changing job performance expectations after date refusal - Disciplining an employee who ends a romantic relationship

Hostile Work Environment

Where verbal or nonverbal behavior in the workplace is severe or pervasive enough to affect the person's environment, is unwanted or unwelcome, centers on sexuality, gender, or other protected characteristic.

Reasonable Person Standard

Would a reasonable person consider this harassment?

A workplace

any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs any work-related duty (Too often dentists don't think of their office as a "workplace")

Harassment

any verbal or physical conduct designed to threaten, intimidate or coerce an employee, co-worker or any person working for or on behalf of Weave. It includes behavior that can cause the recipient to be embarrassed, uncomfortable and cause emotional distress.

How do you respond to distress?

speak up and act

Forms of violence

-Threats -Physical violence -Harassment -Intimidation -Shootings -Rapes -Psychological Traumas -Threats or obscene phone calls -Being followed, sworn, or shouted at

Sexual harassment of a non-sexual nature is also possible, how is that possible

Example: A woman is looking for a hammer in the work place, A male hides the hammer and laughs at her.

Are dental offices at Risk?

FBI reports these risk factors: 1) Working late night or early morning 2) Exchanging money with public 3) Working alone or small groups 4) Uncontrolled access to workplace 5) Areas of consistent problems So. . . Not really