Workplace Violence

Workplace violence can be any act of physical violence, threats of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening, disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. Workplace violence can affect or involve employees, visitors, students and other non-District employees.

The TCC Employee Standards of Conduct states: "Treat all persons with respect, dignity and justice, not discriminating against anyone on an arbitrary basis such as race, creed, sex, age, religion or disability. Also, refrain from any conduct deemed sexual harassment, racial harassment, or any other form of illegal harassment. Immediately report any violation through your supervisor."

If you have concerns about a situation that may turn violent, immediately alert TCCD Police Dispatch at 817-515-8911. It is Better to err on the side of safety than to risk having a situation escalate.

Identifying Potentially Violent Situations

Warning indicators of potential workplace violence include:

  • Intimidating, harassing, bullying, belligerent or other inappropriate and aggressive behavior.
  • Numerous conflict with students, co-workers or supervisors.
  • Bringing a weapon to the workplace (unless necessary for the job), making inappropriate references to guns, or making idle threats about using a weapon to harm someone.
  • Making frequent statements expressing an unusual interest with incidents of workplace violence.
  • Frequently condoning the use of violence to resolve problems and identifying with the perpetrators of workplace homicides.
  • Making threats of suicide and/or contemplating suicide.
  • Using directed or veiled threats of violence or harm.
  • Sudden or extreme behavior changes.
  • Substance abuse.

What to Do

It is very important to respond appropriately, i.e., not to overreact but also not to ignore a situation. Sometimes the appropriate response may be difficult to determine.

Once you have noticed a subordinate, co-worker or student showing any signs of the above indicators, you should:

If You're a Coworker

  1. Notify the employee's supervisor immediately of your observations.

If You're a Student

  1. Notify TCCD Police Dispatch immediately.

If You're a Subordinate

  1. Evaluate the situation by taking into consideration what may be causing the employee's problems.

If You're a Supervisor

  1. Notify that person's supervisor.
  2. Discuss the situation with expert resource staff to get help in determining how best to handle the situation.

Updated January 20, 2023