Employers have a legal and ethical obligation to provide a workplace free of threats and violence. So what can you do to address the issue of workplace violence at your place of business? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Understand that workplace violence is more than just an armed gunman in the building. Workplace violence also includes threats, intimidation, harassment, and violent behavior.
- Understand that some situations are more likely to bring out violence – mishandled termination, the breakup of a marriage, drug or alcohol abuse.
- Understand some of the behaviors that are warning signs – increasing belligerence, worsening relationships with coworkers or bosses, aggressive outbursts.
- Know your rights as an employee for a safe work environment. Know your obligations as an employer to provide this to your employees.
- Have a physical security survey and assessment done of your premises.
- Create a risk management plan and put it into effect.
- Contact a physical security and risk consulting firm to discuss how security professionals can guide you through this process.
There must be support from the top of a business or organization if there is going to be any meaningful action taken to address workplace violence. It is important to understand that here is no one-size-fits-all strategy to this issue. Each business, each organization, each campus or location will have different risks associated with it and thus require a unique plan.
Read Here for a more in-depth look at workplace violence.