WHAT IS WORKPLACE violence

How NIH Defines Violence at Work

Workplace Violence: An action at an NIH facility that, in the opinion of a reasonable person, constitutes a threat of harm to a person or damage to property at an NIH facility; or action that results in intentional infliction of physical harm to a person or actual damage to property at an NIH facility, and includes intimidating or harassing behavior.

Intimidating or Harassing Behavior: Conduct which in the opinion of a reasonable person creates a hostile environment, impairs agency operations, or frightens, alarms or inhibits others. This includes making statements that are false, malicious, disparaging, derogatory, rude, disrespectful, abusive, obnoxious, insubordinate, or which have the intent to hurt others’ reputations. Physical intimidation or harassment may include holding, impeding or blocking movement, following, stalking, touching or other inappropriate physical contact or advances, including attacks involving the use of a weapon, and actions such as hitting, punching, pushing, poking, or kicking. Intimidating or harassing behavior may cause bodily or emotional injury, pain and/or distress.

Workplace Violence Facts

Workplace Violence: A Selected Bibliography from the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (MINCAVA)