Section 1 / Part 5
Effective Date: May 1, 1998

Workplace violence and safety

Synopsis of State of Kansas workplace violence policy

The safety and security of State of Kansas employees and customers are very important. Threats, threatening behavior, acts of violence, or any related conduct which disrupts the organization's ability to execute its mission will not be tolerated.

Any person who makes threats, exhibits threatening behavior, or engages in violent acts on state-owned or leased property may be removed from the premises pending the outcome of an investigation.

Threats, threatening behavior, or other acts of violence executed off state-owned or leased property but directed at state employees or members of the public while conducting official state business will not be tolerated. Off-site threats include, but are not limited to, threats made via the telephone, fax, electronic or conventional mail, or any other communication medium.

Violations of this policy may lead to barring the individual from state-owned or leased premises, termination of business relationships with that individual, and/or prosecution of the individual.

Employees are responsible for notifying the local area management of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) and Rehabilitation Services (RS) Central Office of any threats that they have witnessed, received, or have been told that another person has witnessed or received.

Reference: Workplace Violence Policy, Kansas Department of Administration, January 22, 1997

Rehabilitation Services (RS) policy

When an individual demonstrates by past or present actions that they pose a threat to RS staff, they have forfeited the right to receive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The Field Services Administrator in the RS Central Office should be consulted in all such cases.

1. If there is an open case, the case should be closed as "failure to cooperate." The individual should be notified in writing of the closure, the reason for the closure (the individual's behavior which was identified as violent or threatening), the State's workplace violence policy, and the standard rights to appeal.

2. Requests to open new cases or reopen previously closed cases should be assessed very carefully. The individual must provide independent evidence that they have received services or therapy to address the previously identified violent or threatening behavior. It is the individual's responsibility to provide such evidence. Independent sources for such evidence and evaluation may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical doctor, or other professional whom the counselor deems qualified to assess such situations. Participation in such services or therapy alone does not equate to eligibility for VR services. The individual would still have to be determined eligible according to the standard eligibility policies and procedures. If a case is not opened or reopened, the individual should be notified in writing of the RS decision, the reason for the action, the State's workplace violence policy, and the standard rights to appeal.