PURPOSE
To establish uniform workplace
violence prevention procedures and guidelines.
GENERAL
The state of Ohio is committed
to providing its employees a work environment that is safe, secure
and free of harassment, threats, intimidation and violence. The state
of Ohio recognizes that workplace violence is a growing problem that
must be addressed and, therefore, adopts a zero tolerance policy for
workplace violence, and encourages all state appointing authorities
to adopt a zero tolerance policy which contains, at a minimum, the
following elements:
1. A Statement of Purpose
or Policy.
2. A Definition of Workplace Violence.
3. Examples of Prohibited Conduct and Warning Signs, Symptoms or Risk
Factors.
4. Consequences of Policy Violation.
5. A Crisis Management Reporting System.
6. Employee Support and Counseling Referrals.
To assist appointing authorities
in developing a workplace violence prevention policy, the workplace
violence prevention policy of Administrative Services is attached
as a model policy.
Consistent with the state's
workplace violence prevention policy, threats or acts of physical
violence including intimidation, harassment and/or coercion which
involve or affect state employees or which occur on state property
will not be tolerated. Threats or acts of violence include conduct
against persons or property that is sufficiently severe, offensive
or intimidating to alter the conditions of state employment or to
create a hostile, abusive or intimidating work environment for one
or more state employees.
The state's prohibition
against threats and acts of violence applies to all persons, including
but not limited to state employees, contract and temporary workers,
consultants, college interns, student help and anyone else on state
property. Violations will be subject to legal action as appropriate.
Violation of this policy by a state employee may lead to disciplinary
action up to and including termination in accordance with the applicable
law, rule or collective bargaining agreement.
This directive supersedes
any previously issued directive or policy and will remain effective
until canceled or superseded.
AUTHORITY & REFERENCE
ORC 124.04
ORC 124.09
ORC 124.34
OAC 123:1-45-01