Workplace Violence

Section: Safety, Health & Environmental Services
Responsible Office(s): Human Resources
Effective Date: 02/01/1997
Updated: 04/04/2023

Iona University is strongly committed to providing a safe workplace.  The purpose of this policy is to minimize the risk of personal injury to employees and visitors and damage to University and personal property.

Threats, threatening language or any other acts of aggression or violence made toward or by any University employee will not be tolerated.  For purposes of this policy, a threat includes any of the following;

• verbal or physical harassment or abuse;
• intimidation or instilling fear in others, including menacing gestures;
• stalking, or any other hostile, aggressive, injurious, or destructive action undertaken for domination or intimidation;
• use of any electronic device to harass, display or depict threatening material to a person.  

Weapons are prohibited on University premises and in University vehicles.

Employees should immediately report all potentially dangerous situations, including threats by co-workers, to the University’s Office of Campus Safety and/or their supervisor. Any person experiencing or witnessing imminent danger or actual violence involving weapons or personal injury should call the Office of Campus Safety immediately, or dial 911.  Reports may be maintained confidential to the extent possible and to the extent it does not impede our ability to investigate and respond to the complaints.  All reports will be promptly investigated.  No employee will be subjected to retaliation, intimidation, or disciplinary action as a result of reporting in good faith under this policy.

If an investigation confirms that a violation of this policy has occurred, the University will take swift and appropriate corrective action.