UPPS 04.05.20 - Workplace Violence

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to providing a safe and supportive working environment for all employees, ensuring their well-being and security across campus.

1. SCOPE

   1. This policy is designed to assist members of Texas State University understand and adhere to workplace violence policies. To the extent this policy interferes with or conflicts with the Texas State University System (TSUS) Sexual Misconduct Policy, the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy prevails.

2. DEFINITIONS

   1. Disruptive Behaviors – behaviors that interrupt or impede the progress, movement, duties, or responsibilities of an employee, faculty member, or student.

   2. Intimidation – engaging in actions that include, but are not limited to, stalking or behaviors that would reasonably cause someone to be frightened, coerced, or induce duress.

   3. Physical Attack – unwanted or hostile physical contact such as hitting, fighting, pushing, shoving, or throwing objects.

   4. Property Damage – damage to property, including property owned by the university, university employees, students, customers, clients, visitors, guests, or other outside individuals.

   5. Retaliation – any adverse actions that would dissuade a reasonable person from making or supporting a complaint of workplace violence.

   6. Threat – an expression, verbal or non-verbal, of an intention to inflict physical or mental harm or injury. An expression constitutes a threat without regard to whether the party communicating the threat can carry it out and without regard to whether the expression is contingent, conditional, or expected in the future.

   7. Workplace Violence – is not limited to intimidation, threats, physical attacks, or property damage, acts of violence committed at the workplace or against university employees, students, customers, clients, visitors, guests, or other outside individuals. This definition includes any acts of verbal or psychological threat or abuse on an individual that results in physical or psychological harm. This term also includes all prohibited acts defined in the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy.

3. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

   1. Prohibited conduct in the Texas State workplace includes workplace violence, as defined in Section 14.02 of the Personnel Policy Handbook. Prohibited conduct does not encompass lawful acts of self-defense or the defense of others (see the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy).

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

   1. All members of the Texas State community should:

      1. be alert to behaviors or attitudes that may be indicators of disruptive, threatening, or violent behaviors, such as:

         1. recent changes in behavior, appearance, or demeanor;

         2. work or personal crisis;

         3. withdrawal from normal activities or contacts;

         4. substance abuse;

         5. threats or references to violence or self-harm;

         6. possession of or fascination with weapons; and

         7. expressions of being wronged, humiliated, or degraded.

         Any such behaviors or attitudes observed should be reported immediately, following the procedures found in Sections 05.;

      2. ensure awareness of this policy by faculty and staff, as well as by postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate student employees;

      3. participate in planning and response efforts to mitigate the risk of workplace violence;

      4. work with employees in at-risk areas to develop safety plans; and

      5. encourage a safe and secure workplace.

5. PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

   1. Reports of workplace violence related to sexual misconduct should be made in accordance with Section 4, Reporting Incidents of Sexual Misconduct of the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy.

   2. Reports of workplace violence not governed by the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy should be made as follows:

      Example of Violent Behaviors	Action Steps
      Level 1 Behaviors
      Use of weapons, including items that may be used as a weapon Threats of bodily harm Hostage situations Physical assaults Bomb threats Temporary restraining order violations Property damage Suicide Stalking	Call 911 immediately Call the University Police Department Follow bomb threat procedures Secure office entrances and exits
      Level 2 Behaviors
      Threatening Messages Emails U.S. mail Phone calls Text or social media Fax	Call the University Police Department
      Level 3 Behaviors
      Intimidation Intentional work interference Sabotage Repeated behavior that causes distress in a reasonable person	Call Human Resources, Employee Relations
      Indicators of harm to self or others	Remove employee to private room to calm and reassure Call the University Police Department Call Human Resources, Employee Relations

6. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

   1. Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

      Position	Date
      Director, University Police Department	September 1 E5Y
      Lieutenant, Criminal Investigations Division, University Police Department	September 1 E5Y
      Chief Human Resources Officer	September 1 E5Y
      Title IX Coordinator	September 1 E5Y

7. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

   This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

   Director, University Police; senior reviewer of this UPPS

   Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Financial Officer

   President