Anti-Violence Policy
The safety and security of educators and children is our utmost priority. Zen has a zero-tolerance policy concerning work-related violence. Threats or acts of violence—including intimidation, bullying, physical or mental abuse and/or coercion—will not be tolerated.
It is our goal to have a work environment free from acts or threats of violence and to respond effectively in the event that such acts or threats of violence do occur.
Work-related violence is any intentional conduct that is sufficiently severe, abusive or intimidating to cause an individual to reasonably fear for their own personal safety, for the safety of their friends or family, or for the safety of their property; in a way that creates a hostile, abusive or intimidating work environment.
The conduct prohibited by this policy applies to all Zen employees; but also to staff members at our client-schools, their parents, students, and general members of public.
Examples of work-related violence include, but are not limited to:
- Threats or acts of violence occurring while at work, regardless of the relationship between the parties involved in the incident.
- Threats or acts of violence occurring outside of work, involving someone who is acting in the capacity of a representative of Zen or a related party.
- Threats or acts of violence occurring outside of work involving an employee if the threats or acts affect the business interests of Zen.
- All threats or acts of violence occurring outside of work, of which an employee is a victim, if we determine that the incident may lead to an incident of violence at work; and
- Threats or acts of violence resulting in the conviction of an employee or agent of Zen, or an individual performing services for Zen on a contract or temporary basis, under any criminal code provision relating to violence or threats of violence when that act or the conviction adversely affect the legitimate business interests of Zen.
Examples of conduct that may be considered threats or acts of violence under this policy include, but are not limited to:
- Threatening physical contact directed toward another individual.
- Threatening an individual or the individual’s family, friends, associates or property with harm.
- The intentional destruction or threat of destruction of another's or Zen’s property.
- Menacing or threatening phone calls.
- Stalking.
- Veiled threats of physical harm or similar intimidation; and/or
Communicating an endorsement of the inappropriate use of firearms or weapons.
Examples of conduct that are not considered threats or acts of violence under this policy include, but are not limited to:
Work-related violence does not refer to work environment arguments or debates that are zealous or impassioned, provided there is no resort to any form of coercion. Discussions about sporting activities, popular entertainment or current events are not considered work-related violence when there is no threat of violence being directed to the work environment or any individual connected with it. Rather, work-related violence refers to behavior that demonstrates an intention to engage in violence, condones violence in our work environment, or targets any individual with acts or threats of violence.
Your responsibility to report workplace violence:
Employees should help maintain a violence-free work environment. To that end, employees are encouraged to immediately report any incident that violates this policy to their Account Manager, or the Zen Support Team at either 213-516-6054 or help@zeneducate.com.
Employees who experience violence directed to them or other educators by students, must report these incidents to both of
- The School Administrator, and
- Their Account Manager or the Zen Support Team at either 213-516-6054 or help@zeneducate.com
This policy in no way prohibits employees from engaging in activities that are protected under applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to any activity that is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, which includes the right of employees to speak with others, engage in debates and protest about their terms and conditions of employment. No provision of this policy statement or any other provision in this policy alters the at-will nature of employment with Zen. Zen will make the sole determination of whether and to what extent, it will act upon threats or acts of violence. In making this determination, Zen may undertake a case-by-case analysis in order to ascertain whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that work-related violence has occurred.