Inside Iowa State
February 18, 2000
Deisinger: Workplace violence everyone's responsibility
by Anne KrapflWorkplace violence isn't just the problem of supervisors and administrators, according to Gene Deisinger. It's everyone's responsibility to alert officials when they witness behavior that might indicate even the risk of violence. Deisinger, who heads the behavioral sciences unit in the department of public safety (DPS), spoke at the February open forum of the Professional and Scientific Council.
Violence doesn't occur in a vacuum, Deisinger said, but rather involves an escalating process. Typically, a violence- prone person lands in a certain setting and is "triggered" by a specific act.
Early warning signs of violence include belligerent, harassing behavior; statements that indicate desperation about financial, family or other personal matters; numerous conflicts with co-workers or supervisors; and statements that indicate approval of violent acts to resolve problems. More advanced indicators might include direct or veiled threats of harm, following a potential target (either with or without a weapon), talking about potential "targets," or actually bringing a weapon to the workplace.
Deisinger is a member of ISU's critical incident response team which, when called upon, methodically assesses the risk of violence and develops a plan to minimize the risk.
The team's intervention can be as simple as talking with the person, Deisinger said. "'Cut that out' sometimes is enough. The other end is an arrest or a restraining order to reduce the risk to the target."
Employees who find themselves in tense situations with a threatening co-worker should stay calm, respectful and attentive to what he or she says, Deisinger suggested. If you can, signal another co-worker to indicate that you need help and that DPS should be called. If possible, suggest alternatives to the action the upset co-worker wants to take, he said, but don't risk "being a hero."
In other council business:
- Three recipients were announced
for the Professional and Scientific Outstanding New
Professional Award in its first year. They are Lauri
Dusselier, coordinator of the employee wellness program;
Marc Harding, director of admissions;
and Denise Schmidt, associate director of the Center for
Technology in Teaching and Learning in the College of
Education. The three were selected from 25 nominations
submitted last month and will be recognized at the
university's spring awards convocation March 28.
The award recognizes exemplary service among P&S employees who have worked at Iowa State for fewer than five years. It includes a $1,000 cash gift.
- Council president Danette Kenne noted there has been
discussion on campus regarding the preferred length of the
university's winter break -- three or four weeks. The ISU
calendar committee meets again Feb. 24 to look at the issue.
Lynette Spicer, extended and continuing education, is the
P&S appointee
on the calendar committee. P&S employees who would like to
relay an opinion on the issue should contact Spicer, 4-1327,
x1spicer@exnet.iastate.edu
, prior to Feb. 24.
- Kenne also announced the P&S Council is helping ISU Extension plan a staff professional development day this spring. The day-long event will be held Tuesday, March 28, at an off-campus location in Ames. More details will follow.
The next council meeting begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room.
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