Acting Captain's Exam: Harassment in the Workplace

Question 1

What should management do if an act of violence has occurred in the workplace?

Answer 1

Management staff must approach an employee if violence or the threat of violence is suspected because some employees may be embarrassed or reluctant to report a violent incident, or threat of violence

In some circumstances, it may be necessary for management staff to report incidents of violence if the employee who is the victim of violence is reluctant, too frightened or otherwise unable to do so.

Question 2

Describe Assault

Answer 2

Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury upon another person, when coupled with an apparent present ability to do so, and any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm.

Question 3

Describe Battery

Answer 3

Occurs when a person:

1) Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other, or;
2) Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person

Question 4

Describe Bullying

Answer 4

The misuse of power or position to persistently criticize and condemn; to openly humiliate and undermine an individual’s ability. The bullying attacks on a person may be sudden, irrational and predictable.

Question 5

Describe Management Staff

Answer 5

Any individual responsible for directing the work of others, including but not limited to elected officials (when in a supervisory relationship with city employees), the city manager, general managers, executive directors, directors, managers, supervisors, team leaders, project managers and forepersons

Question 6

Describe Perpetrator

Answer 6

An individual who threatens or commits an act of violence

Question 7

Describe Violence

Answer 7

Unjust or unwarranted exercise of force; the unlawful use of force so as to injure, damage or abuse a person.

Question 8

Describe Harassment

Answer 8

One or a series of vexations comments or instances of conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome/unwanted.

Question 9

Describe Abuse of Authority

Answer 9

An individual’s improper use of power and authority inherent in the position held, to endanger an employee’s job, undermine the performance of that job, threaten the economic livelihood of the employee, or in any way interfere with or influence the career of such person.

Question 10

Describe Descrimination

Answer 10

Differential treatment of an individual or group of individual s which is based, in whole or in part, on one or more of the prohibited grounds of discrimination and which thus has an adverse impact on the individual or group of individuals. Discrimination may be intentional or unintentional.

Question 11

Describe Sexual Harassment

Answer 11

Unwanted or unwelcome actions or comments of a sexual or gender-related nature. Sexual harassment doesn’t not have to be sexually related. Stereotypical comments or actions about one gender or the other can be a form of sexual harassment.