St. Cloud State University empowers employees, managers, and supervisors to develop best practices that create a respectful workplace environment. It is the intent of St Cloud State University to outline expectations for all employees to create a productive place of work that encourages collaboration, communication, and respect for all community members. SCSU does not tolerate unprofessional behavior, such as but not limited to: threats, harassment/sexual harassment, hazing, bullying, retaliation, assault/sexual assault, stalking, property damage or defacement, intentionally injuring another person, or violations of SCSU policy.
This policy is in addition to, and does not amend or replace, other statues, policies, procedures, or contract language about violence applicable to the University including, but not limited to the Minnesota State 1B.3 Sexual Violence Policy, Minnesota State Procedure 1C.0.1 Employee Code of Conduct, Minnesota State Procedure 1C.0.2 Respectful Workplace, and the SCSU Student Code of Conduct.
St. Cloud State University will actively work to uphold a respectful workplace environment by:
- Encouraging reporting: Individuals will be encouraged to report issues in the workplace and participate in efforts to communicate about possible resolutions.
- Providing prevention and education resources: Resources and services dedicated to violence prevention and education will be established. This may include measures such as safety policies and practices; education about violence; assessing threats and creating intervention plans; providing conflict resolution; and communicating regularly about the resources available to assist with the emotions or life events that might lead to violence (i.e. Employee Assistance Program, SCSU Counseling Center, etc.).
- Providing response resources and services: Cloud State University will have staff, committees, and services dedicated to responding to threats or violent acts such as Public Safety, Campus Area Police Service (CAPS), Behavioral Intervention Team, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Critical Incident Response Team.
St. Cloud State University will actively work to manage workplace behaviors and reduce risk by:
- Conducting background checks: Human Resources and hiring supervisors will conduct background checks according to State, Minnesota State, and university policies and procedures.
- Creating a low-risk work environment: Administrators, managers and supervisors are expected to promote positive behavior, and to lead by example, by treating employees with respect and dignity. Emphasis will be placed on creating a workplace where established standards of conduct are clear, communicated, and consistently enforced, and where discipline is used fairly and appropriately to deal with instances of unacceptable behavior. As a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, St. Cloud State University is held to Minnesota State Board Procedure 1C.0.2. All employees should become familiar with this procedure about building and maintaining a respectful workplace.
- Training supervisors: Managers and supervisors will be offered training in how to deal with workplace-related threats and acts of violence. This training will focus on prevention, recognition and de-escalation of violence, will include suggestions for appropriate responses to threats and acts of violence, and will identify those resources which are available for use once a potential problem has been identified, or an incident has occurred. Assessment of training needs will be on-going and appropriate training or educational resources will be provided as needed.
- Training employees: Employees will be offered training in threat awareness, and appropriate responses to aggressive, threatening and violent behaviors. Assessment of training needs will be on-going and appropriate training or educational resources will be provided as needed.
- Providing employee counseling and assistance: The University will provide information on how to take advantage of the services offered by the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is primarily an assessment, short-term counseling and referral agency. While supervisors, union representatives, or family members may encourage employees to seek help from the EAP, the decision to use the services must be a voluntary one. Employees may also choose to seek assistance from private health services to deal with pressures, stress, emotional problems, or other personal issues which could, if ignored, lead to threats or acts of violence.
- Informing about self-help resources: Information will be provided about other services that promote well-being, as well as options for the resolution of personal and work-related problems which may have a potential for escalating to a violent incident. Employees will be encouraged to utilize all available resources.
Pursuant to Minnesota Stature 15.86, this policy does not create any civil liability on the part of the State of Minnesota.