An estimated 3.8 million workers were victims of non-fatal workplace violence in 2022. The same Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study reported a 50% increase in workplace violence since 2019.
What the heck is going on? We are seeing more questions related to threats and violence than ever before in our practice. Let’s break it down:
What is workplace violence? Actual violence or the threat of violence, from verbal abuse to physical assaults.
Who is at risk? Sadly, everyone–with some workers more at risk than others: those who exchange money with the public; deliver passengers, goods or services; work late at night or early morning; high crime areas; and workers with extensive contact with the public.
Why is this an employer’s problem? If the nexus to the violence or threats is the workplace, employers are on the hook. Ignorance is not bliss here–the duty to provide a safe work environment remains whether you were aware of a problem or not.
How can employers protect employees? A zero tolerance policy and a workplace violence prevention program that includes safety education and procedures for reporting potential or real violence are the best practices. All employees need to know which conduct is unacceptable and the consequences of such conduct. Supervisors need to be trained in detecting and de-escalating threats and violence too. Knowing the pulse of your workforce and rising tensions is paramount.
What do we do with an incident of workplace violence? Take each instance seriously:
- Encourage the reporting and logging of all incidents;
- Promptly provide medical evaluation if needed;
- Report violence to the local police;
- Discuss the circumstances with staff and encourage a sharing of information to avoid future incidents;
- Investigate all incidents and threats;
- Institute corrective action based on the investigation; and
- If needed, offer counseling services to help workers recover from a violent incident.
Final thoughts: We will leave the why workplace violence continues to grow to sociologists and psychologists. The ugly truth is workplace violence is an issue many employers will experience and one that all employers should address through thoughtful language in handbooks or a policy, plus training. Contact us before an incident occurs. We can help.