Question

A large retail establishment has a workplace violence policy protecting employees from harm. The policy clearly states employees should not under any circumstance engage in violent acts, including fighting. One night while on a break, an employee spotted a woman being attacked by a man in the parking lot. He asked the woman if she needed help, and the attacker began hitting the employee. The employee fought back. What is the best course of action?

A. Commend the employee for saving a customer's life, and review the policy to add exceptions
B. Terminate the employee for violating company policy, and post the policy for all employees
C. Provide the employee with a corrective action form, and conduct training for all employees
D. Train all employees on expectations and safety procedures, and provide self-defense techniques

Answer 1

The best course of action is to review the workplace violence policy for clarity, train employees on safety and self-defense while balancing the policy's intent to protect employees, and adopt a constructive approach that recognizes the employee's mitigating circumstances.

Step-by-step explanation:

In determining the best course of action following an incident where an employee violated a workplace violence policy to defend themselves and others, it's important to consider the context in which the policy was breached. In the scenario presented, an employee, while on a break, defended a woman being attacked in the parking lot and in turn was attacked, prompting self-defense. Although the company policy advises against engaging in violent acts, the employee's actions can be seen as an effort to prevent harm to another individual, which is a complicating factor in determining an appropriate response.To address this situation, rather than immediate termination or disciplinary action without consideration of the circumstances, it would be more constructive to review and clarify the policy to ensure it's comprehensive and allows room for employees to protect themselves or others in situations of imminent danger. Training employees on expectations, safety procedures, and self-defense techniques could empower them to handle similar situations more effectively while adhering to the policy's intent to prevent workplace violence. This proactive approach would not only reinforce the security of employees but also align the policy with realistic circumstances.