Construction Law
Should Your Construction Firm Have a Zero-Tolerance Policy? Part 5
Although it’s never the easiest thing to do, in some cases, releasing an employee from their employment contract is the most appropriate course of action. In this five-part article series, a Jacksonville construction lawyer is discussing circumstances in which a contractor needs to terminate the employment of their employee. In sections one, two, three, and four, a Jacksonville construction attorney covered everything from sexual harassment allegations to poor work performance to implementing substance abuse policies. In this final section, we will discuss incidents of workplace violence.
Workplace Violence
Millions of workers are impacted by workplace violence every year. Although we naturally think of the most extreme workplace violence incidents that we hear on the news (shootings, homicides, etc.), when we think about the term “workplace violence,” these types of incidents can actually relate to any type of intimidating action or threat of violence. Here are some examples of actions that fall under the umbrella term workplace violence:
- Verbal abuse
- Threatening behavior
- Stalking
- Assault
- Homicide
- Intimidation tactics
- Veiled Threats
- Brandishing a weapon
- Vandalism
- Any threats made through email, social media, or phone calls
It’s important that construction firms create a forum for employees to utilize in order to make workplace violence complaints. If a worker reports that they witnessed an incident or fear for their safety or a coworker’s safety, it’s critical that the construction firm quickly addresses this issue before it escalates. After investigating the incident, if an employee is found to have engaged in any form of workplace violence, their employment should be immediately terminated.
Actions Outside of Work
It’s important that your employees understand that even when they are away from the workplace, their actions reflect on the company as a whole and they can still be held to the standards within their employment contract. If an employee is arrested, this can impact their position with the company. Florida is an “at-will” state meaning that both the employer or the employee has the right to end their employment agreement at any time. In cases where an employee is arrested for a crime that may reflect poorly on their employer, their employment can be terminated.
Remember, for all of your construction legal needs, you require the attention and experience of knowledgeable attorneys. Cotney Construction Law provides its construction clientele with a wide range of helpful legal services including employment law services.
If you would like to speak with a Jacksonville construction litigation attorney, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.