DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

DMC Guidelines on

Employee Workplace Conduct and Violence

DMC Corporate Audit and Compliance Department/HR Departments Detroit Medical Center© Revised: February, 2010 1

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Work Place Conduct and Employment Practices This module is an expansion of the DMC Code of Conduct. Standard Six:

“We are committed to creating a work environment in which employees, physicians and others are treated respectfully, fairly and afforded opportunities for professional development.”

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Elements of Workplace Conduct



Workplace Violence



Harassment



Diversity



Ethics



Code of Conduct 3

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Element One: Workplace Violence



Violent incidents in the workplace are fairly rare, but they have increased dramatically in the last 20 years.



Anyone can become the victim of workplace violence.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Risk Factors

Workplace violence among healthcare workers most often involves:



A patient



Another person (for example, a patient’s family member)



A co-worker or former co-worker



Delivery of goods or services



Mobile workplace (vehicle)



Working late at night or in early morning hours 5

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Forms of Violence



Workplace violence may be physical; for example, pushing, hitting, kicking, beating, pinching, scratching, or biting.



The violence may also be verbal and involve intimidation, “bullying”, or other inappropriate behavior.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Guidelines

The warning signs of workplace violence may include:

 

Direct or veiled threats of harm Intimidating, belligerent, harassing, bullying or other inappropriate/aggressive behavior

  

Conflicts with supervisor or other employees

The approved use

of violence to resolve problems

Displays an interest in or identification with perpetrators of workplace violence



Bringing a weapon to the workplace



Making inappropriate references to guns or hobbies related to guns (target practice) 7

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Guidelines



If you are in immediate danger:



Signal for help from another person



Remove others from the area



Contact security



Report all threats and/or potentially violent situations to:



Your manager/supervisor



Security (ID Badge has Emergency #s) 8

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Guidelines



Your behavior has a tremendous impact on a possible violent individual:

        

Be courteous and patient Stay calm Speak slowly, quietly and confidently Acknowledge the person’s feelings Listen carefully and maintain eye contact Keep the situation in your control Get help if you are unable to control the situation Remind the person of the consequences of their behavior Point out choices helping the person see other ways 9

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Guidelines

Avoid:



Standing directly opposite the person



Putting your hands on your hips



Crossing your arms or pointing fingers



Making sudden movements



Criticizing the person 10

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Guidelines

Delaying Tactics:

       

Ask the person what would improve the situation Do not make promises Suggest you go into a room where it is quieter (with no objects to be used as weapons) We are in a hospital, please lower your voice Position yourself near an exit Keep three to six feet away from the person Be aware of anything that the other person could use as a weapon Never attempt to grab a weapon from the other person 11

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Element Two: Harassment



The DMC has zero tolerance for conduct that is harassing, abusive or offensive toward our employees, medical staff, affiliated persons, patients and visitors.



As part of our commitment to provide a safe workplace, we will maintain a work environment free of misconduct that harasses, disrupts or interferes with an individual’s work, performance or creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile environment.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Harassment



It is the policy of the DMC to maintain a work environment free of sexual harassment, including harassment based upon a hostile work environment.



The DMC

prohibits

and will not tolerate harassment or sexual harassment of its employees by managers/supervisors, co-workers, physicians, visitors, or other persons affiliated with the DMC.



No

DMC employee is allowed to harass or sexually harass non-employees.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Preventing Harassment: Four Actions

1.

Know the DMC’s harassment policies (DMC policies 1 HR 504 and 1 HR 511).

2. Conduct yourself in a professional manner.

3. Be aware of how your behavior may impact others.

4. Report problems immediately —contact any of the following to report a problem:

– – – –

Your manager/supervisor or their manager Human Resources Corporate Audit and Compliance Department DMC Compliance Hotline: 1-800-8ETHICS 14

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Element Three: Diversity



There is great strength in the diversity that is a part of our history, as exemplified by our patients and employees.



How we respond to patients and to one another is part of respecting and building upon our diversity.



The delivery of each patient’s care is under observation by many individuals (patient, family, visitors, clergy, other staff, etc.). Each may have a different perception of the care given.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Diversity



The DMC respects the uniqueness of each person.



We should assure that each person is treated with respect, dignity and courtesy.



Respect and consideration of a patient’s culture, religion or personal requests is considered when determining and carrying out the plan of care:



Personal requests by patients and their family members are superseded by our obligation to deliver quality care 16

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Element Four: Ethics

Every DMC employee should use ethical behavior by:



Avoiding conflicts of interest, actual impropriety and/or the appearance of impropriety.



Conducting all business with vendors, contractors and others free from inducements.



Not

soliciting or accepting anything of value from vendors.



Avoiding accepting elaborate meals, refreshments or entertainment from vendors.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Ethical Behavior



Do not

use your position or knowledge obtained through your position to profit personally or assist others in profiting at DMC’s expense.



Ensure that

no

Conflict of Interest exists, when business is conducted with any non-DMC company.



Disclose any potential Conflicts of Interest and obtain written permission from the appropriate DMC authority if a situation may be perceived as a conflict.



Report any suspicious activity.

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Element Five: Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct booklet:



Provides guidance to ensure that our work is done in an ethical and legal manner.



Emphasizes the shared common values that guide our actions and helps resolve questions about appropriate conduct.



States failure to comply with the Code of Conduct is a serious matter and can lead to disciplinary action (up to and including termination).

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Code of Conduct



Following the Code of Conduct is

mandatory

for

all

DMC employees, staff and affiliated persons. While the Code of Conduct provides a basic description of unacceptable conduct or performance, it does not cover

all

behaviors that may occur in the workplace.



The Code of Conduct has nine standards.



For more on the Code of Conduct, visit the

Corporate Audit and Compliance web page.



Also, you may call the Corporate Audit and Compliance Department at: 313.993.0317

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DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

DMC Compliance Hotline



The DMC

Compliance Hotline

is offered to employees as a way to report suspected compliance violations when normal channels of communication are ineffective.



DMC Compliance Hotline: 1-800-8ETHICS



Untraceable; anonymous



Available 7 days a week/24 hours a day 21

DMC Workplace Conduct and Violence

Thank You

We hope this NetLearning course has been both informative and helpful. Please feel free to review this course until you are confident about your knowledge of the material presented. Click the Take Test button, located on the left side of the screen, to complete the requirements for this course. For future reference this module is available on the NetLearning Library under the 2010 Core Compliance category. The NetLearning Library link is found on the DMC Intraweb screen under the NetLearning drop-down list.

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