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The Realities of Workplace Violence

We hear a lot about workplace violence involving disgruntled former employees who decide to make a violent strike.  In fact, it’s more common for current employees to act out their anger in the workplace.  Here are some current statistics from The Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• 43 percent of workplace homicides involve current employees.

• 22 percent of workplace homicides are committed by former employees.

• 21 percent of workplace killings involve domestic violence that is carried out at the workplace.

• 14 percent of workplace killings are committed by customers or clients.

• Women rarely commit workplace violence. Men are most often the perpetrators of violent crime at work.

Let’s talk policy and pre-incident indicators  

These alarming statistics require all businesses to understand the progression and escalation of an impending incident or attack. A preventative approach is critical and can, in fact, deter a person who is angry and determined to act out.  The following are steps employers, co-workers, and all citizens can take to help prevent these crimes.

First, employers have, at their fingertips, frequent policy recommendations distributed by government agencies, law enforcement, and human resources professionals and their associations. The most widely and successfully utilized include:

• Employers must enact a zero tolerance policy for workplace violence.  Publish it and discuss it with all staff. Be sure to provide forums to answer all employee questions, insuring the policy is understood, implemented and observed.

• Employees must report workplace violence or the threat of violence, and this must be a company-wide, communicated priority. Employers must take reports seriously.

• Prevention strategies must be implemented if a threat is posed, regardless of how likely or “probable” it may seem that the threat would be carried out.

It is important to realize that the majority of workplace violence incidents are planned and premeditated, rather than spontaneous. Prime examples of this are workplace shootings. The perpetrator typically carefully plans and prepares the shooting.  It is during this time period that opportunities exist for the potential threat to be discovered. Co-workers may hear comments made in anger, or may even be told that the violence is being planned. Family members, friends or neighbors may hear or see behavior that indicates violence is being considered. If ammunition or supplies are purchased, store clerks may observe suspicious behavior or hear comments that foretell the violence.

A proactive approach can thwart an attack

Law enforcement professionals have a long-standing, time-proven saying that works: If you see something, say something.

This is where we all come in. Every employee, citizen, friend, neighbor, business leader, shop owner and HR professional possesses the instinct to notice if something about another person is not right, seems suspicious or frightens us.  We all possess this “internal guardian” instinct and it’s important for us to learn to trust it.  To do this, we must move past our societally trained response to be politically correct and stay out of others people’s business or problems, and realize that if we notice something and speak up, it may, in fact, save lives.

We are all aware of the horrible litany of 2012 tragedies that took the lives of many in schools and in workplaces. It’s time for a shift in our collective thinking on the topic of public venue violence. In the workplace specifically, sound workplace violence prevention policy, employee training on this policy, and the rewarding of a proactive “see something, say something” culture as part of that policy could help stop a disgruntled employee in their tracks—and save lives.

Stay alert and stay safe.

Warm regards,

Kathy Leodler Chief Executive Officer Email:kathy.l@rampartgroup.com Phone: (360) 981-2703 PI License #3555

Paul Leodler Executive Vice President Email:paul.l@rampartgroup.com Phone: (360) 981-3397 PI License #4180

We at Rampart Group are committed to your security. Call 1-800 421-0614 or contact us today with your security or investigative needs.