NCJ Number
206953
Date Published
2004
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This manual provides an overview of guidelines for employees and management on violence or threats in the State of Maryland.
Abstract
A threat of violence is any act of physical aggression or any statement that could be perceived as intent to cause harm to an employee of the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). Examples would include assault, battery, and destruction of property, harassment, stalking, sexual assault, rape, or homicide. The definition would also include threatening or verbally expressing a wish to kill, hit, or cause any type of bodily harm to an employee of GOCCP or to GOCCP property; threatening or verbally expressing a wish to hit, kill, or cause any type of harm to any other person, and or property, utilizing GOCCP facilities or while on GOCCP time; and any behavior that might contribute to a hostile work environment. A 1990 Bureau of National Affairs report estimated the cost of domestic violence to United States companies at $3-5 billion dollars annually. This is due to lost work time, increased health care costs, higher turnover, and lower productivity. Fifty percent of the domestic violence victims who are working miss 3 days of work a month due to domestic issues, and 75 percent of these victims used company time to deal with their violence because they were unable to do so at home. In addition, 64 percent were periodically late for work, and 96 percent of employed battered women experienced problems at work due to the abuse. Reports show that 80 percent of workplace violence is domestic violence related. It is crucial that every employer be aware of the increasing reports of domestic violence, but more importantly to be prepared to be a partner in making the workplace safer for all employees. Appendixes