Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1438.06
January 16, 2014
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: DoD Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Policy
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This instruction establishes DoD policy and assigns responsibilities for
workplace violence prevention and response policy regarding DoD civilian personnel in
accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (a)) and Secretary of
Defense Memorandum (Reference (b)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in
this instruction as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. DoD Components work with employees to maintain a work environment free from
violence, threats of violence, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior. All
employees are responsible for promoting a safe work environment.
b. Violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior will not be
tolerated in the workplace; all reports of incidents will be taken seriously and will be dealt with
appropriately.
c. Those who engage in such behavior may be:
(1) Immediately removed from the premises.
(2) Denied re-entry pending completion of an appropriate investigation.
(3) Subject to removal from federal service, criminal prosecution, or both.
