VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

Violence in the Workplace

Violence in the Workplace

Executive Summary

In order to address workplace violence we must examine who is committing these violent acts. Characteristics of violent acts include a loner; normally they have a history of interpersonal relationships problems. Someone who has few or no friends or significant others may be a person who can commit violent acts on the job. This person may display aggressive behavior and attitudes. There are many things that people and companies can do to protect themselves from violent crimes. Companies should have a pre plan strategy that includes an external response policy, interaction with public law enforcement, debriefing and counseling for employees if there is an incident and a plan to deal with the media.

Introduction

Most people think of violence as a physical assault. However, workplace violence is a much broader problem. It is any act in which a person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted in his or her employment.

Violence on the job can appear in many forms from simple harassment to personal attacks. These episodes of violent acts are caused by many factors. However, everyone must be aware of the warning signs for violent acts. Employees have a responsibility to protect employees and be aware of the laws that regulate workplace violence.

Review of Literature

Between 2000 and 2006, violence in the workplace claimed more than 1,000 lives each year in the United States. In 2002 over two million Americans reported being physically attacked at work, resulting in $13.5 billion in medical costs. One out of every four employees was harassed, threatened or attacked in a recent one year period. Crimes of violence at work, in short, constitute a significant social problem. (Bowman & Zigmond, 2007)

As Boyd says that workplace violence is a growing epidemic that can be prevented through taking the necessary precautions and knowing the warning signs. The horrid face of violence can take on many forms in the workplace. The most common forms include physical attacks, rape, threats, abusive letters and phone calls. Other forms of violence include sexual harassment, threatening behavior, fighting, and murder. (Boyd, 2005, 491-519)Contrary to popular belief work place violence can be inflicted by co-workers, and outsider that the victim knows a completely unknown third party or even a customer. One of common examples of outsiders causing violent acts on the job site is domestic violence.

When people have been emotionally abused in their childhoods, they bring this trauma into the workplace. Adults often report similarities in the dynamics and feelings produced by their work relationships compared with the dynamics they experienced as children growing up in an alcoholic or abusive family system, taking on the old roles they played in their family of origin. (Johnson & Indvik, 2004, p 81)

The domestic disputes do not stop at home and are brought into the job making domestic violence a leading factor in workplace violence. These are all forms of violence in the workplace. Everyone is at risk for workplace violence; however, some occupations ...