The NESDIS Workplace Violence Prevention Pilot Program will provide all NESDIS employees with a new resource to answer questions and assist in addressing concerns about workplace violence. The pilot program is being called RESPECT. RESPECT is not an acronym but has been selected to represent the goal of respectful behavior in the workplace. Your calls to (757) 441-3838 will be answered by a trained RESPECT response coordinator who will provide you with advice in response to your questions or concerns, may refer you to other appropriate resources, or may call in the trained response team of NOAA experts to assess the situation and provide guidance on how to proceed.
Ms. Gail Hamilton, a NOAA Employee Relations Specialist, will serve as the RESPECT response coordinator. If you have questions or concerns about workplace violence or potential workplace violence, Ms. Hamilton will take your phone calls at (757) 441-3838 Monday-Friday during normal business hours, Eastern Standard Time; after-hours calls will be returned the next day. RESPECT is not intended to be used as a substitute for calling 911 when an individual feels police or emergency help is needed.
The RESPECT Response Team consists of both Core and Auxiliary members. Core members may include the NESDIS EEO and Diversity Manager, the WFMO/NESDIS Employee & Labor Relations Specialist, the NOAA Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, the Employee Assistance Program, and the Office of Security at NOAA. Auxiliary members may be called to represent other areas such as the Office of Civil Rights, Office of the General Counsel for Labor and Employment Law, and Office of the Chief Information Officer..
The RESPECT Advisory Committee is an advisory body that collaborates with the Response Coordinator. The Advisory Committee develops and recommends policies, practices, and educational tools to prevent and respond to workplace violence.