Blackfeet Tribal Business Council: Petition To Implement A Zero Tolerance Violence-Free Work Policy

We are asking the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council to commit to creating and maintaining a zero tolerance and violence-free workplace policy where threats, threatening behavior, intimidation, harassment including sexual, verbal and physical assaults, or any act of violence will not be tolerated. We are also asking that this policy state that threats or threatening behaviors will be investigated immediately and will be grounds for charges according to Blackfeet Tribal Law if found to be in violation of this policy. These types of incidents have been known to occur within and throughout the Blackfeet Tribal Organization and have been numerous enough to not only merit review, but numerous enough to implement such a policy. It is the belief of the petitioners that implementing a zero tolerance and violence-free policy and posting statements of this policy and the consequences of violating this policy in all buildings owned or operated by the Blackfeet Nation will help manage and reduce workplace violence incidents. Employers everywhere have a legal and ethical responsibility to promote a work environment free from threats and violence and the Blackfeet Tribe as the main employer on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation should have the same legal and ethical obligation to do the same. Workplace violence according to this policy will refer to actions including threats, threatening behaviors, intimidation, harassment including sexual, verbal and physical assaults or any other act of violence that originates from the General Public, Blackfeet Tribal Employee's and the Blackfeet Tribal Administration including all Blackfeet Tribal Business Council Members and all will be subject to the guidelines of such a policy. This petition is asking that the Blackfeet Tribe also provide professional training from an outside entity to educate all Blackfeet Tribal Business Council Members, all Blackfeet Tribal Program Directors, and all Blackfeet Tribal Staff Members should they chose to implement this policy. This petition is also asking that the General Public be made aware of this policy should it be implemented as well. The petitioners believe that implementing such a policy will effectively make a positive change as well as working on creating a professional work environment throughout the Blackfeet Tribal Organization.