1. Rose Marie Lichtenfels MSW, MA, LCSW

2.   Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. The majority of these crimes are simple assaults. Definition Of Workplace Violence

3.  Workplace Violence Includes:  Assault  Stabbings  Robbery  Shootings  Rapes  Verbal Abuse  Psychological traumas  Bullying  Threats or obscene phone calls  Intimidation  Harassment of any nature  Being followed, sworn or shouted at  Homicide

4.   Violence by strangers – offenders who intend to commit a crime, i.e. robbery, theft, and terrorism  Violence by customers or clients – when violence emerges during a business transaction  Violence by coworkers – when one worker commits violence against another, includes past workers  Violence by personal relations – violence between the worker and personal relationship outside of the workplace Types of Workplace Violence

5.   Workplace violence is the second-leading cause of occupational injury  In 2013, 475 workplace homicides occurred.  In 2012, 80 percent of workplace homicides were shootings.  In 2012, of the female victims killed by homicide, 23% were killed by robbers and 21% were killed by relatives or domestic partners.  In 2012, of the male victims killed by homicide, 36% were killed by robbers and 3% were killed by relatives or domestic partners. Facts According to the NCVRW

6.   Workplace violence can strike anywhere and no one is immune. However, some workers are at an increased risk of experiencing violence.  Those who have a great deal of contact with the public, work alone during late night or early morning, work in high crime areas, or in community settings and homes.  Such as taxi drivers, gas station attendant, community workers, visiting nurses, probation officers, police officers, and social services workers to name a few Occupations of Victims

7.   Violence in the workplace can be complex. However there are factors that can cause this violence to erupt.  Alcohol and drug abuse  Financial crisis related to job loss, gambling, bad investments, or credit-card debt  Mental illness  Workplace stress  Real or perceived mistreatment by others Causes of workplace violence

8.   There is no sure way to tell if someone will become violent. However, there are often warning signs  Written, oral or implied threats or intimidation  Fascination with weaponry or acts of violence  Intention to hurt self or others  Displays of excessive and unwarranted anger  Romantic obsession  Inability to take criticism  Lack of concern for the safety of others. Warning Signs

9.   Workplace violence is not just about physical assaults or homicides. One of the precursors to violence may be bullying.  Workplace bullying is a significant problem  It can destroy relationships and lead to failure on the job.  The types of bullying that happen are harassment, emotional abuse, disrespect, and rudeness. Non Violent Victimization

10.   A bully can be anyone within the workplace setting.  Customers and clients that are unhappy or feel they have been wrong and need someone to intimidate  Co-workers who maybe having a bad day and take it out on the other worker. Or they may have decided they just don’t like that person or are jealous of them.  Supervisors and bosses can also bully employees. This can range from disrespectful comments to sexual harassment.  Most bullies are male and act alone Who is the Bully

11.   The best protection employers can offer is to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by their employees.  The employer should establish a workplace violence policy and place that information in the employee handbook or manual of standard operating procedures.  It is critical to ensure that all employees are aware of the policy covering workplace violence What employers can do

12. Rose Marie Lichtenfels MSW, MA, LCSW

13.   This area can be broken down into two different types, they are violent and non-violent forms of victimization  The violent form includes, murder, assault and rape. This is the most serious forms of victimization  The non-violent form includes theft, vandalism, bullying and verbal altercations. This is the most prevalent form of victimization School Victimization

14.   Many people believe school violence only affects students and they would be wrong. There are others that are also potential victims and they would be teachers, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, school nurses, grounds keepers and any others employed in the school setting.  The reason for this is because it not only happens in the classroom but when a student is in transit to and from school. Victims Who and Were

15.   According to the National Crime Victim Survey these are the latest figures from crime in these grades  In the 2009/2010 school year, 74% of all public schools reported one or more serious violent crime such as rape, sexual battery other than rape, robbery with or without a weapon, threat of physical attach with a weapon, or fight or physical attack with a weapon.  During the 2009/2010 school year 91% of both middle and high schools reported violent incidents at school and 64% were reported by elementary schools K to 12 th Grade

16.   For school age children (5 to 18) in the 2010/2011 school year, there were 11 homicides at school  In 2011, 28% of students ages 12 to 18 reported having been bullied at school  In a 2011 study that included youth in grades 6 to 12, 64% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) respondents said they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and 44% felt unsafe because of their gender expression. K to 12 th Grade Continued

17.   Responses to real or perceived victimization falls into three categories  Fear – this can be a debilitating factor for some students and can have long reaching consequences for them  Avoidance – the fear a student feels could cause to avoid attending school, avoid different places on school grounds and for them to stay away from school activities.  Self-protection – some students may carry weapons to school in order to protect themselves, which only adds to the bigger problems they already face. Responses to School Violence

18.   While colleges are relatively safe places they are not immune to incidents of crime and violence.  Acts of fatal violence are rare on campus  More common are violent crimes by both known and unknown offenders. Crimes such as forcible rape, aggraded assault and robbery.  Stalking is also a widespread but underreported crime on campus. College Campus Victimization

19.   Because of the negative publicity that violent incidents bring to schools, they are loath to admit that violence does occur and it appears that such episodes go largely unreported.  This was in large part responsible for the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, known as the Clery act. It was named after a 19 year old freshman who was raped in her campus residence hall in 1986. College Campus Victimization

20.   In 2012, of the aggravated assaults reported, 63.3% were on campus and 18.3% were off campus  In 2012, of the murders that were reported, 16 occurred on campus, and 21 occurred off campus  In 2012, of the sex offenses reported 88.1% were on campus and 11.9% were not on campus  In 201, of the robberies that were reported, 40.9% were on campus and 59.1% were not on campus Numbers Under the Clery Act

21.   This is a crime that faces employees and students. This differs from other forms of victimization in two primary ways.  Sexual harassment often does not involve an actual physical assault.  It can manifest itself in subtle ways, such as sexually suggestive comments, unwanted touching, resque jokes and pornography or blatant demands for sexual contact Sexual Harassment

22.   There is no universally accepted definition of sexual harassment. However, there are unacceptable actions that fall into two broad categories.  Quid Pro Quo harassment is the first one and it happens when the offender requires sexual contact in exchange for employment, better working conditions, high grades, or other favorable treatment.  A Hostile Environment is when the harassment may be as subtle as displaying calendars of naked people at work. Telling crude sexual jokes, touching a person or commenting on how sexy a person looks Definition of Unacceptable Actions