Why you need this policy:
Acts of violence perpetrated in the workplace have become a major societal problem. In many places, homicide has become the leading cause of workplace fatality! In addition to tragedy, failure to safeguard your workforce from the risks of violence—whether from co-workers, clients, or outside third parties—can expose your law office to significant liability under negligence and other laws.
How this policy helps you:
It has become imperative, and in many states, including California, a legal requirement that employers implement programs to prevent violence at the workplace. The centerpiece of the prevention effort is to adopt a written policy on workplace violence.
How to use this policy:
Make sure you include your workplace violence policy in your human resources manuals and/or codes of conduct and that, like the Model Policy below, it includes a policy statement (often phrased as zero tolerance), a clear definition of workplace violence, where it can occur, and who can author it, and a procedure for employees to report threats, acts, or concerns of violence to the law office for investigation.
