How To Manage Violence In The Workplace

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, workplace violence is any violent act directed at people while at work or on duty, including threats. While the most severe instances of workplace violence often attract national media attention, this is a relatively uncommon occurrence, affecting 12.6 out of every 1,000 workers, according to the Department of Justice. Managing workplace violence begins with taking preparatory actions and having a plan ready to deal with any violence before it takes place.

Step 1

Develop a prevention plan. Managing workplace violence starts with an effective prevention plan established before any violence takes place, according to the Office of Personnel Management. These plans should arrange for training and education, pre-employment screenings, workplace security, dispute resolution and response plans.

Step 2

Look for warning signs. Workplace violence often comes from people exhibiting specific behaviors, including veiled threats, intimidating language, frequent workplace conflicts, drug or alcohol abuse and sudden changes in behavior.

Step 3

Establish training policies. Tell workers clearly what the organization's violence policy is and how to report violent incidents. Educate workers on how to handle conflict, manage stress and properly follow and use security procedures.

Step 4

Identify organizational causes. Workplace violence doesn't just stem from individual behavior, but can be encouraged or arise from organizational problems. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, risk for a hostile work environment grows with one-size-fits-all approaches, lack of communication between employees and management, inflexible management styles and lack of a clear, written policy.

Step 5

If a workplace violence incident occurs, contact the appropriate authorities and report the violence. You do not have to know what the law is to report a suspected crime; merely report what you saw or what you know to law enforcement so the authorities can investigate.