Levels of Violence and Response
Level-Two (Escalation of the Situation)
The person:
- argues with customers, vendors, co-workers, and management;
- refuses to obey agency policies and procedures;
- sabotages equipment and steals property for revenge;
- verbalizes wishes to hurt co-workers and/or management;
- sends threatening notes to co-worker(s) and/or management; and/or
- sees self as victimized by management (me against them).
Response When the Situation Has Escalated to Level Two
- If warranted, Call 911 and other appropriate emergency contacts (such as Federal Protective Service) for that particular facility, particularly if the situation requires immediate medical and/or law enforcement personnel.
- Immediately contact the supervisor and, if needed, the supervisor will contact other appropriate official(s) such as functional area experts to seek help in assessing/responding to the situation.
- If necessary, Secure your own safety and the safety of others, including contacting people who are in danger (make sure emergency numbers for employees are kept up-to-date and accessible).
- Document the observed behavior in question.
- The supervisor should meet with the employee to discuss concerns and, if appropriate, begin or continue progressive discipline.
- Call for assistance in assessing/responding, if needed.
- Avoid an audience when dealing with the employee.
- Remain calm, speaking slowly, softly, and clearly.
- Ask the employee to sit down; see if s/he is able to follow directions.
- Ask questions relevant to the employee's complaint such as:
- What can you do to try to regain control of yourself?
- What can I do to help you regain control?
- What do you hope to gain by committing violence?
- Why do you believe you need to be violent to achieve that?
- Try to direct the aggressive tendencies into another kind of behavior so that the employee sees s/he has choices about how to react.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-4. Which level of violence is demonstrated when an employee sabotages equipment and steals property for revenge?
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