Violence is one of the biggest vices in society, and the extent of the problem is growing by the day. The most common kinds are the ones we see daily- not the serial killings in broad daylight in closely packed locations, but in our workplaces.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states that there are roughly 2 million instances of workplace violence annually. The incidents usually involve physical abuse, verbal abuse, and even homicides. Even worse, most cases go unreported.
You’d expect some form of decency given the formality required in a workplace.
Yet, many factors influence the setting, making it a hotbed for overblown emotions and pent-up frustrations.
The signs are often there, lingering in the background until it blows over. Yet, the administrators fail to see it until it’s too late.
What is workplace violence?
Workplace violence refers to threats and acts of physical altercation and disruptive behavior in the workplace. These acts may include verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, and harassment involving employees, visitors, customers, and clients.
Workplace violence is a considerable risk in the working environment, and there are statistics to back it up, indicating that it is a leading occupational hazard.
Certain factors may double the risk for workers, such as financial exchange and working with already violence-prone co-workers. Also, the overall working conditions play an essential role.
Thus, taking the necessary steps to anticipate and prevent these unfortunate workplace events is essential. Here are some important tips:
1. Conduct a workplace analysis
By evaluating your company’s exposure and proneness to violence, you’re stemming the causes of violence from the ground up. The analysis will help you to formulate a unique workplace violence prevention action plan.
The analysis involves inspecting and assessing the workplace to find hints of hazards, tensions, and points of discontent that could lead to violence.
A type of analysis for you to carry out is a study of the peculiarity of specific physical hazards to different jobs, departments, work schedules, workplace layouts, etc.
2. Encourage employee participation
You can encourage employees to participate in critical activities to monitor tensions and bonding processes.
As they share their vast range of skills and experiences, channeling them into day-to-day activity, you can get a unique perspective and insight into their feelings on different situations and protocols.
As a result, you’ll be able to root out the cause of dissent from the start before it can occur.
3. Encourage employees to report situations
Many cases of workplace violence go unreported each year, and there are several reasons for this.
However, the most common is a perceived feeling of distrust from employees. There’s a fear that issues will not be adequately handled, or they could lose their jobs.
By encouraging your employees to report instances of workplace violence, you create trust, better understand your employees, and thus prevent instances of potentially disruptive behavior.
4. Anticipate difficult scenarios
Some circumstances increase the risk of problems within the workplace, and you have to anticipate the impacts of each one if you want to prevent violence. They include:
Sackings
Workplace bullying
Unhappy, disillusioned, and disgruntled employees
Overly attached employees.
Workplace security is paramount, and that’s why Sundown Security LLC exists. Get a quote today to keep your workplace professional.