Be prepared for workplace violence

You may think your organization is highly unlikely to encounter workplace violence. But consider this: The Society for Human Resources Management found in a 2022 survey that 28% of U.S. workers have either witnessed an aggressive interaction between co-workers, or been involved in one themselves. If your organization is located in a high-crime area, or if you serve a population that may be unstable or volatile, workplace violence is a very real threat.

The following are some steps you may consider taking to prepare for workplace violence:

1. 1. Create a workplace violence prevention plan. Such a plan would need to include buy-in from everyone in your organization, including both employees and top management. You will want to allow employees to give feedback about potential hazards. You will also need to perform a workplace analysis, which identifies situations that could lead to workplace violence. Once you identify those hazards, you should put a plan into place to eliminate or reduce them. For example, you may need to separate visitors from the rest of your facility by a locked door until they have gone through the proper screening process.
   2. Understand the warning signs of violence. Everyone in a leadership role at your organization should be on the lookout for signs that an employee might be capable of committing an act of violence. Those signs could include:
      • Holding grudges.
      • Being hostile, disruptive and aggressive.
      • Being sad for a long period of time.
      • Blaming others.
      • Being preoccupied with violence.
      Watch your employees carefully. If someone experiences a loss or gets laid off, keep an eye on how they are handling the situation.
   3. Foster a workplace environment in which employees feel comfortable reporting suspicious activity. They should feel that if they raise a concern, their report will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. They also should feel safe—their name won’t be connected with the report. Otherwise, employees could stay quiet for fear of repercussions.
   4. Take a close look at your insurance plan. Do you have adequate liability insurance? What about workers’ compensation insurance? Should the unthinkable happen and violence erupts in your workplace, your organization could be left with a huge medical bill, and possibly even funeral expenses.