PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE Your Agency INTRODUCTION

PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE Your Agency

INTRODUCTION ü ü ü ü WORKPLACE VIOLENCE DEFINED THE PERPETRATORS THE VICTIMS STATISTICS THE CAUSES SIMILARITIES OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF VIOLENCE AT WORK WARNING SIGNS RECOMMENDATIONS

WHAT IS WORKPLACE VIOLENCE ? Ø Act of physical violence Ø Threat of physical violence Ø Harassment Ø Intimidation

THE PERPETRATORS ü Disgruntled co-worker ü Domestic partner ü Client or customer of public service worker ü Patient or resident in health care facility

THE STATISTICS Over 1, 000 fatalities each year ü Homicide is the 2 nd leading cause of on the job deaths ü Fatal assault leading cause of death for women ü Southern and Western states have highest homicide rates ü

THE VICTIMS OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS ü ü ü Taxicab drivers Cashiers Sales and administrative workers Managers and professionals Police and detectives Direct contact with the public ü Exchange of money ü Having the authority to terminate an employee ü Dealing with violent people or situations ü

THE CAUSES ü Economic ü Societal ü Psychological ü Organizational ü Social

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS üFascination with the military, or being a survivalist üOver age 35 üA loner or an extremist üCarries a grudge üHas difficulty accepting authority or reality üMay have substance abuse or mental health problem

WARNING SIGNS ü Dramatic behavior or personality change ü Chronically disgruntled ü Makes intimidating threats or allusion to violence

RECOMMENDATIONS HOW MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE HANDLED THE PROBLEM ü Terminations/forced resignation should be handled at the management level ü If management chooses to have supervisor handle situation, provide complete support ü Provide employees with information and training on workplace violence ü Implement effective security measures ü Enforce “zero tolerance” policy