§ 245-5. Workplace violence.

Violence in the workplace will not be tolerated. For the purposes of this chapter, workplace violence is any behavior which is intended (or a reasonable person may perceive is intended) to abuse or injure a person or damage or destroy property in the workplace, including, but not limited to, bullying, threats, physical, verbal, written or visual attack, or property damage. The following definitions are incorporated to assist employees to more fully understand the nature of the behavior prohibited by this chapter. Note, workplace violent behavior is not limited to only these descriptions:

BULLYING

Bullying will not be tolerated in the workplace. Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. Bullies often vary their tactics hour to hour, day to day. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, verbal abuse (i.e., shouting, swearing, name calling, malicious sarcasm, threats to safety); behaviors/actions (i.e., public or private that are threatening, intimidating, humiliating, hostile, offensive, inappropriately cruel); abuse of authority (i.e., underserved evaluations, denial of advancement, tarnished reputation, arbitrary instructions, unsafe assignments); interference with work performance (i.e., sabotage, undermining, ensuring failure); or destruction of workplace relationships (i.e., among coworkers, bosses, or customers).

PHYSICAL ATTACK

Intentional hostile physical contact with another person or an object such as hitting, fighting, pushing, shoving, or throwing.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

Intentional damage (as a reasonable person may presume by the nature of the damage) to property, which includes property owned by the town, employees, or others.

THREAT, A

Expression of intent to cause physical or mental harm, regardless of whether the person communicating the threat has the present ability to carry out the threat, and regardless of whether the threat is contingent, conditional or future.

VERBAL ATTACK

Intentional hostile communication (including recorded messages) with another person, such as abusive outbursts, verbal tirades intended to offend, offensive comments, or use of obscene or threatening language.

VISUAL ATTACK

The use of bodily gestures that are threatening, obscene, or abusive.

WRITTEN ATTACK

The use of printed, electronic or social media, including notes, letters, drawings, pictures, or computerized mail, to threaten, abuse, ridicule, or harass people or to threaten property.