Workplace Violence Is on the Rise: Here’s What You Need to Do

Did you know that right now, nearly one in seven employees feels unsafe at work, according to a Society for Human Resource Management study conducted earlier this year, and that HR professionals report that violent workplace incidents are up 36% since 2012?

Here’s what you need to do about workplace violence.

Asses Risk of Violence at Your Organization

Don’t wait until your workplace experiences a traumatic act of violence before your HR team acts. Assess your organization’s risk for workplace violence today to decrease the likelihood that it will occur.

Assemble a threat assessment team (TAT), or hire a trusted outside third party to assess your organization’s risk for workplace violence. Analyze your safety policies and procedures, your building’s safety risks, how your teams log and report incidents, and individuals who are exhibiting signs of workplace violence or who might pose a high risk of instigating workplace violence, etc.

Pay Attention to the Warning Signs

If an employee has a history of violence or displays signs of violence, like in the case of the workplace shooting in Aurora, Illinois, make sure your HR team understands and pays attention to this individual.

HR professionals and employees alike should know the major types of workplace violence, how to identify when someone is displaying signs of violence in the workplace, and how to report violence and prevent it from occurring.

Offer Mandatory Violence Prevention Training

Every employee, regardless of his or her title or role, should undergo violence prevention training. Your workers should know how to assess and identify risks of violence, as well as company policies and plans regarding workplace violence, especially in the case of an active shooter.

Also, employees should understand what resources are available to them, especially if they are being harassed or bullied or otherwise fear for their safety or the safety of others.

For more details and insight, read “Shootings and Violence in the Workplace: What You Need to Know.” 

Overall, to offer your employees peace of mind and mitigate violence at your organization, complete the actions highlighted above.

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