Preventing Workplace Violence

[Rodeo]

The following was brought to my attention today while at work and seems to be a worthy cause, so I thought I'd post it here incase anyone was interested....

My name is Christopher Cross and I am writing this letter in regards to a bill that is likely to be submitted to the Missouri House of Representatives 2004 session by State Representative Robert Schaaf, 28th District. The bill will focus on all areas of workplace violence as a means to not only enhance law enforcement capabilities and efforts in protecting the public. But also to assertively protect victim rights by providing proper judicial authority to handle such matters in both the criminal and civil realms. Currently the State of Missouri does not have any statutory laws specifically related to workplace violence.

According to a July 2, 2003 article from Missouri Employers’ Mutual, which deals with workers compensation issues, "workplace violence is the second leading cause of work-related deaths in Missouri". However, when defining workplace violence, such can also encompass incidents of harassment, intimidation, threats and dehumanizing or violent speech, as well as domestic violence that enters the workplace. Therefore, as a result of these things and the overt need to better protect the citizens of Missouri, public opinion is critical to the construction of an effective bill. Accordingly, I would like to extend an invitation to the general public to submit their ideas on the types of laws the public would like to see developed for workplace violence issues, general comments or actual encounters with workplace violence issues. Those individuals who are willing to permit their personal stories to be submitted to the House Committee members for review and consideration in the bill's introduction are encouraged to reply to this invitation.

[Rodeo]

the email address to send replies is

workplaceviolence@stjoelive.com

[bama47]

Only way to stop it now is a real change in a person's heart. No tough laws or whatever will prevent it.

[Rodeo]

While I understand your point, I have to say that I strongly disagree that laws are not necessary to secure, protect and preserve the rights of all to work in a safe environment. I also must say that if people had it in their "hearts" to act differently then I very much doubt we would need any laws for any matter in our socieity.

I strongly favor the broad interpretation that says workplace violence is not confined or should be defined as the extremes of serious injuries or death. When by its' very nature, workplace violence also encompasses matters of threats, harassment, ridicule, intimidation, retaliation and so on. Ultimately serving the goal of causing another person to fear or to take action(s) out of and because of fear.

In the research I have conducted into this subject I have found some very horific statistical data from multiple entites that says it is very unlikely that we will overcome this problem unless and until we take a firm stance against workplace violence. The problem existing however, is that the predominate viewspoints being shared are from employers who often times point the sole finger of blame upon the employees and the media who depicts an employee as some disgruntled manged out person. Rather than accepting that there are plenty of management personnel who are actually the root cause of workplace violence incients becuase of their lack of training, inadequate skills or their belief that their position gives them the right to mistreat or abuse employees. And in a society largely controled by the employee at will doctrine, which gives considerable favor to the employer, it is very difficult for any employee to be taken seriously by outside entities. When the employee is often times faced with enormous amounts of biases and prejudices from both the officials and from their employer.

There are currently nine states that permit an employer with the authority to petition for a restraining order on behalf of an employee...This is particularly useful when there is evidence of domestic violence that enters the workplace or where there is a demonstrated custom, pattern or practice of workplace violence regardless if it is harassment, threats or actual phsycial harm.

Everyone has the right to live and work in a safe environment, yet, it is because we continue to live in a society plagued by those whose "hearts" are not respectful to the rights of others that I am in personal favor of any laws that stand to protect victims of workplace violence, providing the laws are not contrary to ones inherent constitutional rights or liberties.

[Rodeo]

In what was an update to the original letter, I found a particularlly disturbing bit of information contained within and thought I would share it with ya'll...pay attention to what the 7th Circuit Court has ruled.... I looked up this law and found that it was not a misquote to the courts message and meaning......

Few people would disagree that a person has the right to live and work in a safe environment and yet, according to the National Institute for the Prevention of Workplace Violence (NIPV) 1,000 people have been killed annually since 1990. This number is slightly higher than the estimated 900 for the year of 2000 according to the July 3, 2003 Jefferson City News Tribune article, yet, it provides no comfort to the many citizens who are faced each day with the various forms of workplace violence. And in a published article from the Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co., "workplace violence is the second leading cause of work-related deaths in Missouri". This is why I approached Gov. Holdens' office, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence and many others for assistance with the proposed bill I have drafted that specifically targets workplace violence behaviors in a broad interpretation. And it is why I am now reaching out the public for their input not only in the suggested laws the public would like to see passed, but also any personal stories of actual experiences related to workplace violence.

Workplace violence extends beyond the extremes that tragically involve physical injuries or death as according to the Notational Research Institute on Workplace Violence, it also encompasses matters of verbal violence, property violence, threats and all forms of harassment. Unfortunately however, state officials throughout the U.S. are not taking proper steps to safeguard the general populace in matters of workplace violence. The NIPV cites only three states that have addressed such matters on a legislative level, yet, in very limited ways and they are California, Washington and Florida. Moreover, the 7th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, (Hernandez v. City of Goshen), ruled in March of 2003 that even though police held prior knowledge of an employees threat to cause serious injuries to his co-workers, the police held no obligation to get involved until after someone was either injured or killed, classifying it as "private violence". As a result two employees were killed and one was injrued.

As a private citizen I believe it is of paramount importance that state officials carefully listen to the public's voice because matters of workplace violence holds profound economical, social, legal, political and personal ramifications for everyone. We cannot afford to take these matters lightly any more than we can afford to allow our state officials to ignore our voices because at any given time we may very well find ourselves faced with the death or injury of a loved one as a result of workplace violence. So again, I would like to extend the invitation and the encouragement to all your readers to send in their suggestions, general comments and personal stories so that our voices carry a loud and clear message to our state officials through a "citizens initiative". The email address to send public comments to is workplaceviolence@stjoelive.com


Respectfully,

Christopher Cross