Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Employee Violence and Harassment Policy

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

EMPLOYEE VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT POLICY

Employer Name:

Purpose and Scope

This policy establishes the employer's commitment to maintain a workplace free from violence, harassment, intimidation and other conduct that compromises the safety, dignity or well-being of employees, contractors, visitors and clients. The policy applies to all employees, contractors, vendors and guests while on employer premises or conducting employer business offsite.

Definitions

"Workplace violence" includes physical assault, threats of violence, stalking, intimidation, sabotage or any other act that causes or is intended to cause physical harm. "Harassment" includes unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic or any other unwelcome verbal, visual or physical conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

Prohibited Conduct

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to: threats, intimidation, physical assault, coercion, stalking, sexual harassment, derogatory comments, verbal abuse, pushing or striking, possession of weapons on employer property, and any action that reasonably would be perceived as violent or harassing.

Reporting Procedures

Employees must report incidents, threats or observed conduct in violation of this policy promptly to their supervisor, the human resources department, or the designated reporting officer. Reports may be submitted orally or in writing. Employees should include date, time, location, names of involved parties and any witnesses or supporting information.

Investigation and Confidentiality

All reports will be investigated promptly, thoroughly and impartially. Investigations will be conducted in a manner that protects the privacy of individuals to the extent practicable and consistent with the need to conduct an adequate inquiry. Information will be disclosed only to those with a legitimate need to know.

Non-Retaliation

The employer prohibits retaliation against any individual who in good faith reports an incident or participates in an investigation. Retaliation is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Corrective Action

When an investigation determines that a policy violation occurred, the employer will take prompt and appropriate corrective action commensurate with the severity of the violation, which may include counseling, training, suspension, demotion or termination.

Emergency Response

If an immediate threat to safety exists, employees should take steps to protect themselves and others and contact emergency services as appropriate. After ensuring personal safety, the employee should notify a supervisor or human resources as soon as practicable.

Training and Recordkeeping

The employer will provide training and resources to employees on this policy, prevention techniques and reporting procedures. Records of reports and investigations will be maintained securely in accordance with applicable record retention requirements.

Acknowledgements and Employee Information

Position Information

Start date:     Salary/Rate:

Employment status:

Employment History (most recent)

Dates employed:

Dates employed:

Education

Professional References

Legal Notices and Disclosures

At-Will Employment: Nothing in this policy is intended to alter the at-will nature of employment, where applicable. Either employee or employer may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, subject to applicable law.

Equal Opportunity: The employer prohibits discrimination and harassment and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to protected characteristics. Harassment or discrimination on any protected basis is prohibited.

Background Checks: Where permitted by law, the employer may obtain information about an employee's background to the extent necessary to protect safety and security. Employee consent to background checks may be required.

Consent to background check:

Employee Acknowledgement and Certification

I certify that I have received, read and understand the Violence and Harassment Policy. I understand my obligations under the policy to report incidents and to cooperate in investigations. I acknowledge that failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Employee acknowledges policy:

Authorization to Contact Previous Employers

I authorize the employer and its agents to contact my previous employers and references to verify employment history and job performance where necessary for safety and operational needs.

Authorization:

Employee Name:

Signature:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Employee Violence and Harassment Policy Covers

An Employee Violence and Harassment Policy is a formal workplace document that defines prohibited conduct, reporting channels, investigation procedures, and corrective actions. It sets employer and employee responsibilities for preventing workplace violence and harassment, explains how incidents will be reported and investigated, and clarifies confidentiality and non-retaliation protections. The policy commonly includes definitions, scope, complaint intake steps, investigation timelines, discipline matrices, training obligations, and recordkeeping requirements to support consistent enforcement and legal compliance across federal and state rules.

Why a Clear Policy Matters for Employers and Staff

A written policy reduces legal risk, guides consistent response to incidents, supports safe workplaces, and documents employer commitment to compliance with federal and state law. It helps meet training and recordkeeping obligations and provides a defensible process if administrative agencies or courts review an employer’s handling of complaints.

Why a Clear Policy Matters for Employers and Staff

Who Typically Creates and Uses This Policy

Employers, HR teams, legal counsel, and managers commonly draft and maintain the policy to meet regulatory and organizational needs.

  • Human resources and compliance teams responsible for policy drafting, training, and record retention.
  • Supervisors and managers who receive reports and carry out initial fact-finding and corrective action.
  • Employees and contract workers who must understand reporting channels and protections.

Maintain version control and evidence of distribution and acknowledgements to demonstrate consistent application and reduce exposure to claims.

Core Elements Every Policy Should Include

A comprehensive policy balances clear definitions with practical procedures so incidents are reported, investigated, and resolved consistently while protecting confidentiality and legal rights.

Definitions

Define 'harassment', 'bullying', 'workplace violence', and protected classes so the scope is unambiguous and covers informal and severe conduct.

Scope

Specify who and which locations and work-related contexts the policy covers, including remote work, business travel, and employer-sponsored events.

Reporting Channels

Provide multiple reporting options (manager, HR, hotline, anonymous options) and specify timelines for initial intake and acknowledgement.

Investigation Process

Outline steps, investigator independence expectations, evidence collection, interview procedures, and estimated completion timeframe for investigations.

Remedies & Discipline

Describe potential corrective actions for substantiated misconduct as well as interim measures to protect complainants during investigations.

Non-Retaliation

State a clear prohibition on retaliation, explain protections available to reporters, and describe consequences for retaliatory conduct.

Step-by-Step: Create, Approve, and Issue the Policy

Follow a clear, staged workflow so the policy is legally vetted, approved by leadership, and communicated to employees with documented acknowledgements.

  • 01
    Draft: Draft policy language and include required elements.
  • 02
    Legal Review: Have counsel review statutory compliance and risk items.
  • 03
    Leadership Approval: Obtain sign-off from the appropriate executive or board-level designee.
  • 04
    Distribute: Publish, train, and collect employee acknowledgements.

Configuring Digital Workflows for the Policy

Set up a repeatable e-distribution and acknowledgement workflow to ensure every employee receives and signs the policy, and that records are retained securely.

Field Configuration
Signer Order HR then Executive sign-off
Authentication Email link with optional SMS code
Acknowledgement Required checkbox and signed date
Retention Store signed copies in HR system

Digital Delivery and eSignature Considerations

Choose a platform that supports secure e-signing, audit trails, and integrations with HR systems to capture acknowledgements.

  • File formats: PDF or DOCX
  • Authentication: Email, SMS code
  • Integrations: HRIS and document storage

Ensure the platform supports record exports, retention policies, and compliance features required by applicable regulations.

How Electronic Policy Distribution Typically Works

A standard e-distribution workflow minimizes friction for signers while producing an auditable record of receipt and signature.

  • Upload: HR uploads final policy document.
  • Place Fields: Add signature and acknowledgement fields.
  • Send: Dispatch to employee list or group link.
  • Archive: Store signed copies with audit trail.

Typical Timelines and Reporting Expectations

Track deadlines for acknowledgements, incident reports, investigation milestones, and scheduled policy reviews to meet internal and legal expectations.

Acknowledgement window:

Employees respond within 14 days.

Incident report:

Report incidents within 24 hours.

Initial response:

Acknowledge receipt within 3 business days.

Investigation timeframe:

Aim to complete within 30 days.

Policy review:

Review annually or sooner after incidents.

Key Implementation Milestones

Sequence core stages from drafting to completed employee training with clear owners and expected durations.

01

Drafting

Create initial policy draft and annexes.

02

Review & Legal

Legal review and risk clearance.

03

Distribution

Publish and send for acknowledgements.

04

Training

Complete employee training and document completion.

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

  • Vague definitions that leave managers guessing how to classify incidents or escalate reports.
  • Single reporting channel with no alternate confidential options for victims or witnesses.
  • Failing to document investigative steps and outcomes, which weakens defense against claims.
  • Not aligning training frequency and content with state-specific statutory requirements and best practices.

Risks of an Incomplete or Incorrect Policy

Legal Liability: Lawsuits and damages
Regulatory Action: Agency investigations
Reputational Harm: Employee distrust
Operational Disruption: Lower productivity
Financial Costs: Settlement or legal fees
Retention Issues: Higher turnover

Essential Recordkeeping and Security Controls

Encryption: At rest and in transit
Access control: Role-based permissions
Audit trail: Time-stamped signing logs
Retention policy: Versioned storage
Incident logs: Secure evidence storage
Privacy safeguards: Limit HR access

eSignature Pricing Snapshot for Policy Distribution

Compare representative starting prices and key features for common eSignature vendors; signNow appears first per platform comparison conventions.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About Policy Execution and E-Signing

Answers to common operational and legal questions about using electronic distribution and signatures for your Employee Violence and Harassment Policy.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users