Library Board approved November 18, 2003.
The Oak Park Public Library seeks to provide a safe workplace for all employees. To reduce the risk of violence, all employees should review and understand all provisions of this workplace violence policy.
The Library does not tolerate any type of workplace violence committed by or against employees. Employees are prohibited from making threats or engaging in violent activities.
This list of behaviors, while not inclusive, provides examples of conduct that is prohibited.
- Causing physical injury to another person;
- Making threatening remarks;
- Aggressive or hostile behavior that creates a reasonable fear of injury to another person or subjects another individual to emotional distress;
- Intentionally damaging employer property or property of another employee;
- Possession of weapons such as explosives, firearms, knives, look-alike weapons, or any other objects that can reasonably be considered as weapons, are not permitted on Library property or at any Library-related events;
- Committing acts motivated by, or related to, sexual harassment or domestic violence.
While we do not expect employees to be skilled at identifying potentially dangerous persons, employees are expected to exercise good judgment and to inform the Assistant Director for Administration and Finance or Librarian-in-Charge or other person in charge if the Assistant Director for Administration and Finance is not available and the situation is an emergency, or if any employee exhibits behavior which could be a sign of a potentially dangerous situation. Such behavior includes:
- Discussing weapons in an inappropriate manner or bringing them to the workplace;
- Displaying overt signs of extreme stress, resentment, hostility, or anger;
- Making threatening remarks;
- Displaying irrational or inappropriate behavior.
Threats, threatening conduct, or any other acts of aggression or violence in the workplace will not be tolerated. Any employee determined to have committed such acts will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Non-employees engaged in violent acts on the Library’s premises or at a Library-related event will be reported to the proper authorities and fully prosecuted.
