Workplace Violence

It seems like an oxymoron. We should be safe in our offices, protected from the dangers of the outside world, in peril of no more than an occasional papercut or coffee burn or accidentally stapled finger. Unfortunately we aren’t. We have only to look at the nightly news to see yet another story of workplace violence. Here in Illinois, several incidents recently occurred (an employee of a bank inside a grocery store, a terminated employee returning to his business with deadly results, and a spouse killing his wife and several of her co-workers when he was angry at being served with divorce papers.)

According to OSHA, workplace violence is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States with 1000 workers murdered each year and 1.5 million (yes, MILLION) workers assaulted. Despite the serious nature of this crime, few companies take it seriously or provide any significant training to their employees to prepare. Most of us are simply unprepared to believe that someone we have worked with and gotten to know over the years would be capable of this type of vicious attack. The reality is that violence can be within any of us, if triggered by the right circumstances and situation.

The University of Iowa recently conducted a study on workplace violence and determined that the incidents tended to fall into four categories: Criminal Intent; Customer / Client; Worker on Worker; or Personal Relationship.

The National Institute for Health has identified the following as risk factors:

• Contact with the public
• Exchange of money
• Delivery of passengers, goods, or services
• Having a mobile workplace such as a taxicab or police cruiser
• Working with unstable or volatile persons in health care, social services, or criminal justice settings
• Working alone or in small numbers
• Working late at night or during early morning hours Working in high-crime areas
• Guarding valuable property or possessions
• Working in community-based settings

Every company needs to prepare in advance for a workplace incident and have some measure of security present, whether monitored video cameras, a security guard, or just well trained observant employees. Take reasonable steps, such as posting signs to indicate that a safe is on a time lock and cannot be opened by any employees on site.

Make sure you are following common sense procedures:

• Conduct background screenings on every employee brought into your workplace.
• Do a thorough reference check.
• Make your business (and employees) safe on a daily basis:
  • Use proper exterior and interior lighting
  • Maintain alarm systems
  • Have all employees wear photo ID badges
  • Provide escorts to cars after dark
  • Train your employees to be aware of security issues and how to respond.
  • Consider providing work/life balance programs that give employees a place to turn confidentially when they feel overwhelmed.
  • Track all keys issued to employees.
  • Employ extra security if terminations are necessary.
  • Deactivate passwords and entry cards immediately upon termination.
  • Notify front desk employees of terminations so they are aware of which employees should not be permitted to enter the facility.
  • Consider having your local law enforcement agency provide a presentation to your employees on workplace violence.

Administrative professionals in particular are often exposed to danger in the workplace. We may cover the front desk or answer the phones. We may be able to convince our companies to develop zero tolerance policies against workplace violence. We could be the first to become aware of a dangerous situation and how we react to it may determine the outcome. We are also often aware of rumors floating through the business that may indicate someone is behaving irrationally. It is critical that we respond decisively and immediately to any threat.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Profiling and Behavioral Assessment Unit has assembled this list of potential indicators of violent behavior:

• Direct or veiled threats of harm;
• Intimidating, belligerent, harassing, bullying, or other inappropriate and aggressive behavior;
• Numerous conflicts with supervisors and other employees;
• Bringing a weapon to the workplace, brandishing a weapon in the workplace, making inappropriate references to guns, or fascination with weapons;
• Statements showing fascination with incidents of workplace violence, statements indicating approval of the use of violence to resolve a problem, or statements indicating identification with perpetrators of workplace homicides;
• Statements indicating desperation (over family, financial, and other personal problems) to the point of contemplating suicide;
• Drug / alcohol abuse; and
• Extreme changes in behaviors.

Don’t be fooled however into thinking that if someone DOESN’T exhibit these signs that there is no threat. With the right circumstances anyone can snap and take their anger and frustration out on innocent victims. Obviously most people manage to survive personal difficulties without resorting to violent behavior, but being aware means that you may be able to help diffuse a situation before it escalates to violence.

If you observe threatening behavior in any situation, take it seriously! Report the incident to HR or management. Require that they document the incident. If you believe you are in imminent physical danger, get out and call the police immediately! Don’t allow yourself to be alone with that individual. Don’t risk your personal safety by staying in a situation that appears dangerous. They may be willing to pay with their life.