WORKPLACE CRIME AND HONEST DEALING

Workplace crime and honest dealing

Workplace crime and honest dealing

Introduction

What is workplace crime? Workplace crime is crime or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. However it manifests itself, workplace crime is a growing concern for employers and employees nationwide (www.osha.gov). The law enforcement community defines Workplace crime as the commission of proscribed criminal acts or coercive behavior which occurs in the work setting.

It includes but is not limited to homicides, forcible sex offenses, kidnapping, assault, robbery, menacing, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct. Workplace crime is an issue that everyone who is in the labor force should be aware of. Regardless of the industry or the organization, employees, supervisors, managers and owners should take precautions and take note that workplace crime has many forms and can happen at any time as well as be at any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs any work-related duty.

Something like that could never happen here, is what most assumes. Unfortunately, the statistics show that crime can and does happen in the workplace. In fact, the chances of crime occurring in the workplace are shockingly high and increasing. An important question that should be asked is how can you prevent crime in the workplace from occurring? The answer to this question is very complex.

How often does workplace crime occur? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, murder was the second leading cause of death in the workplace, In 1997, there were 856 homicides in America's workplace, where assaults and threats of crime number 2 million a year. Although the press focuses on the "crazy worker-type crime," where a worker kills his supervisor or co-workers, crime among co-workers occurs very infrequently compared to other types of workplace crime. Since 1992, crime among co-workers has averaged only about 6% of all work-related homicides. The rest are the result of robberies or other crimes.

Prevention Plan

The implementation of an effective workplace crime program requires the commitment of top management. Such a commitment provides a context for decisions and planning. An effective program should include the following;

a. Management ability to show concern for employee's safety and health by placing a high priority on eliminating any threat of crime.

b. Employer commitment to assign and communicate the responsibility for various aspects of safety and security to managers, supervisors and employees.

c. Management needs to insure that each supervisors, professional and employee responsible for the security within the workplace is accountable for their responsibilities.

Crime, or the threat of violence, whether committed by supervisory or non-supervisory personnel, is against stated company policy. Complaints must be treated as serious violations of company policy and investigated as soon as possible.

Policy

In order to ensure the safety and security of all employee's, crime and threatening violence behavior including verbal or written threats or physical attacks in the workplace are prohibited: There needs to be ...