Workplace Violence: Understanding and Prevention Will Protect Your Organization

Workplace violence takes many forms. It can include verbal threats, physical assault—even death. Violence in the workplace is one of the fastest-growing forms of violence and poses a significant threat to the safety, security and well-being of employers and employees. An issue of great concern is that businesses continue to underreport incidents of violence in the workplace. This is less than ideal because the underreporting can lead to apathy and less-than-adequate protection of workplaces. Current research suggests that employers’ attempts to eliminate workplace violence are much more successful when the focus is on prevention rather than reaction. For that reason, it makes sense for employers to familiarize themselves with the early indicators that an employee might be at risk for acting out violently. By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Identify the risk factors and warning signs of potential violence.
• Recognize the frequency with which violence permeates the workplace.
• Conduct an assessment to determine their organization’s violence vulnerability.
• Recognize the environmental factors that allow violence to escalate.
• Develop an in-house anti-violence program.

Notes from SHRM:

• Is your workplace prepared in the event of a workplace violence incident? SHRM’s new online toolkit provides info and resources to address this pressing issue: www.shrm.org/workplaceviolence
• NEW SHRM workplace violence research report released today, showing need for more education, prevention and training: www.shrm.org/research