4.3.3p Workplace Violence

Approved: December 2010
Scope: Faculty and Staff
Contact: Director of Human Resources
References: SBTCSG Policy 4.3.3
Forms: Workplace Violence Incident Reporting Form

Review in light of new legislation

Lanier Technical College is committed to preventing workplace violence and to maintaining a safe work environment. All employees should review and understand all provisions of this workplace violence policy to ensure a safe workplace and to reduce the risk of violence. Employees, supervisors and managers are expected to maintain a professional and businesslike relationship with fellow employees, students, customers, vendors, visitors, volunteers, and all other work-related contacts. This College will not tolerate acts or threatened acts of violence in the workplace (including a satellite campus/location), or at any event sanctioned by the TCSG or Lanier Technical College, while an employee is on duty, or while off duty when the act is directed toward a work-related contact, or otherwise bears a relationship to work. Threats of violence will not be excused on the grounds that they were made in a "joking" fashion.

Examples of prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to:

Physically menacing/threatening behavior or gestures which convey a threat;
Fighting or other acts of violence whether directed toward a manager, supervisor, co-worker, student, customer, vendor, or any other individual while on duty or representing the College;
Stalking;
Possession of a weapon on LTC property or at any sanctioned event when such possession is contrary to the provisions of O.C.G.A. 16-11-127.1 and State Board Policy II.C.10;
Unlawful harassment, including ethnic, racial, or sexual epithets;
Physical attack/assault with or without a weapon;
Direct or implied verbal threats or abusive, intimidating, or obscene language;
Intentional damage to the personal property of an employee, student, volunteer, visitor, vendor, or contractor; or
Intentional damage to personal, TCSG, or Lanier Technical College property.

Fighting and/or physical altercations among employees or students is strictly prohibited. This includes any "fighting" that may be characterized as "horseplay."

TCSG and Lanier Technical College reserve the right to inspect any type of state property including, but not limited to, desks, work areas, computers, and other assigned equipment. Employees are expected to cooperate in any search, and failure to cooperate will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from employment. All files, records, and information stored on any TCSG or LTC computer are the property of TCSG/LTC and may be inspected at any time, with or without prior notice or permission. Employees should expect that electronic mail messages, internet usage, and all information created, transmitted, downloaded, received, or stored on TCSG or LTC computers may be accessed at any time without prior notice. Employees should not assume that they have an expectation of privacy or confidentiality in such messages, data, or information, whether or not such information is password protected, or that deleted messages, data, information, or previous internet use have been removed from the computer’s hard drive.

Employees must notify their supervisors or other authorized officials when any restraining/protective order has been initiated by or against them. This includes issues of a personal nature (e.g. domestic disputes, stalking, etc.) when the order includes any TCSG or technical college worksite or campus location.

Employees are responsible for notifying their supervisors or other authorized officials of all acts or threatened acts of violence (see Workplace Violence Incident Reporting Form). Failure of an employee to report such acts or threats of violence shall be considered a basis for disciplinary action up to and including separation from employment. Safety precautions should be put in place, if determined appropriate, as soon as incidents are reported. Employees who report acts or threatened acts of violence are protected from retaliation. Any acts of retaliation should be reported to your direct supervisor or Human Resources as soon as possible.

All alleged acts or threats of violence will be reviewed by the appropriate managers and Human Resources. The identity of persons making a report will be protected as much as is practical. To maintain workplace safety and ensure a fair investigation, employees may be suspended with pay pending investigation.

Employees found to be responsible for making threats of violence or for engaging in violent behavior will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Employees are encouraged to bring their disputes or differences with other employees to the attention of their supervisor or the HR Director before the situation escalates. Lanier Tech is eager to assist in resolving employee disputes, and will not discipline employees for raising such concerns.