Level 1: Level 1 is considered the US normal, and as a standard of practice, should not apply to individuals and teams serving internationally.
Level 2: International normal readiness level. Standard overseas threat level. Level 2 situations are taken care of locally by the field team.
Level 3: Local Field Team manages the situation, but the team informs Reliant's International Crisis Manager by reporting the international incident so that Reliant can evaluate the situation. Typically at this level, the incident is localized and on a smaller scale. Reliant would not know of the incident without the field team informing us. Reliant would like to hear that "we are fine" and be available to help evaluate the situation and provide assistance if needed.
Level 4: Local Field Team still mostly manages the situation. As soon as possible, the team informs Reliant's International Crisis Manager by reporting the international incident and Reliant's ICMT is now actively involved in the decision-making and helping the field team directly.
Level 5: Management of the crisis is now beyond the capacity of the local field team to manage independently. Reliant's International Crisis Management Team or its pre-approved delegate is now managing the situation until the Local Field Team returns to a position to do so themselves. This is a major crisis resulting in ongoing disruption to field operations or the threat now inhibits the ability of the team to safely continue.
Specific Readiness Level To Determine Next Steps
| Level 5 | Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
Any incident of domestic violence (physical abuse) or persistent verbal abuse. | Unresolved pattern of verbal abuse or significant threat of domestic (physical abuse) violence | Report or observation of verbal abuse, fear of violence (physical abuse) by a family member | Resolvable non-abusive domestic disputes |
Steps to Reduce Probability and Consequences
- Establish a self-reporting culture on your team (See Employee Reporting)
- Follow the proper reporting protocols:
- Team Members should confidentially report to the Field Leader all moral failures (including level 1-4 incidents). If the Team Leader is the object of scrutiny, the person should report directly to Reliant Central through standard ICMT reporting protocols
- The Field Leader will report to the Reliant ICMT all level 3-5 incidents
- The ICMT member receiving the report will disclose information as needed to the rest of the ICMT for all level 2-3 incidents
- Any incident that is deemed to be level 4-5 will require response (and possible management) from the entire Reliant ICMT
- When moral failures occur, the Field Leader should address the conflict directly and justly (See Contingency Planning: Moral Failure)
Applicable Corporate Policies
- Evacuations may be authorized and mandated at either the local, Self-Evacuation, or Reliant level.
- Confidentiality During Crisis Events
Crisis Resolution Protocol
- Immediately secure a safe environment for the victim and dependent family members (with an appropriate escort if someone in the family is removed to another location)
- Immediately detain the perpetrator with appropriate personnel to supervise them
- Make sure that the perpetrator can not communicate with the victim unless they have supervision
- Follow proper reporting protocols found above
- As soon as you are able, begin documenting and gathering information
- Contact Reliant to report the incident: Crisis Reporting for International Incident
- Reliant will reach out to receive more details for their internal crisis report. Eventually, Reliant will share a communication tracking log that will serve as a way for team leaders and Shared Crisis Authority and Responsibility in Reliant Partnerships to all view communication updates between Reliant and the field team member
- Reliant will work with local leaders to assign personnel to investigate the incident, establish a time frame for when the reported offense occurred, and confirm their activities leading up to the incident and locations they might have visited recently. This personnel should locate and contact any witnesses that might have observed the incident.
- The Team Leader and Reliant should directly address the issue and consequences in a private meeting with the abuser
- Those affected by abuse need safety and stability provided. Thus, they should not be housed in the same premises with the abuser. If necessary, leadership may seek a safe haven in a new location.
- The individual(s) who were abusers may be removed from the field and sequestered with appropriate supervision until transported to the U.S.
- You may need to evacuate the individuals, preferably accompanied by team members, family, or ICMT member
- The Team Leader should make contact with, notify, and provide continuing care for affected team members
- Follow all ICMT directions and recommendations
