Growing Phenomenon Of Violence At The Workplace Essay

Workplace violence has existed throughout history. However, historical documentation of workplace violence is vague and sometimes non-existent. Documented workplace violence is believed to have existed during the Roman Empire, the Renaissance Era, and it continues today. It seems unfortunate, but as long as a “society” exists, workplace violence will more than likely exist. Therefore, employers must understand: the history of workplace violence, the effects it has on the organization, the reasons why it occurs, the warning signs, and ways to prevent it from occurring. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of the Manager, to not only understand workplace violence, but to ensure that all employees

Workplace violence is the main issue in the United States expressed influencing a large number of American consistently. Working environment violence is any demonstration or danger of physical savagery, provocation, terrorizing, or other undermining problematic conduct that happens at the work site. It ranges from dangers and verbal mishandle to physical ambushes and even murder. It can influence and include workers, customers, nurses, patient, clients, and guests. Workplace violence can be discovered anywhere in every field we may accept the fact that it can happen in our workplace too, but the fewer people speak which is encouraging these criminals to prepare of making more atrocity. The occupational safety and health organization (OSHA) have created rules and suggestions to decrease laborer presentation to this deplorable scourge but still many people are being victimized their hands are tied up mouths are taped out to face the reality of what they are living through (OSHA 2015). OSHA’s paradigm incorporates the following elements: management commitment and employee involvement, hazard analysis or assessment, hazard controls, employee training, and recordkeeping and evaluation (McPhaul, London, & Lipscomb, 2013). As mentioned, these elements are basic guidelines in constructing a program, but more specific measures are needed to address specific precursors that contribute to the occurrence of violence and bullying. This would assist in forming the best strategies to remedy workplace violence and incivility.

Violence has become a major health issue in the society. Workplace violence is one of the areas that continues to witness a rise. This takes various forms, inclusive are bullying and active gun shooter incidents. This paper will discuss this problem in relation to Nursing.

Several models and concepts arose in preventative measures to workplace violence in nursing. One conceptual model, according to Covert Crime at Work, is “a conceptual model derived from 370 surveys show working conditions conducive to bullying, thus helping to identify risks early and to prevent unhealthy environments from developing.” After recognition of these research and studies, organizations such as Occupations Safety and Hazard Association, American Nurses Associations, and etc, have implemented guidelines to prevent workplace violence in nursing.

Violence in all its forms has increased dramatically worldwide in recent decades (Balamurugan, Jose & Nandakumar, 2012). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report, nearly two million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year (2011). Among those at highest risks for violence in the healthcare setting are nurses, social workers and psychiatric evaluators (OSHA, 2011). In the healthcare setting, physical assault is almost exclusively committed by patients (Balamurugan et al., 2012). Moreover, nurses have the highest rate of violent attacks out of all healthcare workers (Howerton Child & Mentes, 2010); the main reason being that nurses are alongside the patients 24-hours a day, are usually the most available caretakers and are the frontline staff members dealing with patients and their relatives whereas psychiatrists, social workers and other healthcare providers only visit from time to time (Yarovitsky & Tabak, 2009; Rowe, 2012; ALBashtaway, 2013).

The acts violence can be overt or covert verbal and or non-verbal aggression. Such act includes behaviors like gossiping, withholding information and ostracism, which are referred to relational aggression or psychological abuse. These behaviors can also extend outside the workplace and can occur in person or in cyberspace (Walrafen, Brewer, & Mulvenon, 2012). According to King-Jones (2011), the origin of lateral violence is related to the oppressed group model that supported that nurses are powerless and oppressed group. Hence, they react by over-powering other Violence in the workplace is a national concern that affects all profession, especially the nursing profession. It is a known fact that violence brings unsafe environment that has detrimental effects to the individual nurses as well and their patients (Chipps, stelmaschuk, Albert, Bernhard, & Holloman,

Workplace violence can be considered as “violent acts, threats, physical assault or acts of aggression towards an individual on duty at work (). Violence can also be caused by hostile conduct with the intent to cause emotional or verbal harm. This article focuses on ER nurses experiences with the susceptibility towards violence in the workplace. According to Papa & Venella (2013), nearly 25% of the ER nurses experienced some type of violence from verbal abuse to physical abuse within the last three years (Papa & Venella, 2013). In my opinion, it is very

The Xerox shooting and the Sheraton stabbing are good examples of such violent episodes. Both incidences exhibited prior evidence of violence in the workplace; and if proper intervention by management was initiated, these tragedies could have been prevented. Therefore, employers need a good workplace violence program to protect their employees as well as their customers.

In Understand & Report the Signs of Workplace Violence, we discuss the warning signs of workplace violence

When looking as to why males are more likely to be victimized than females at the workplace, there are a number of factors as to why it occurs. Going back from a few chapters it explained the phenomena already. Males having a higher rate of physical, and or violent victimization than women. Women are more likely to be sexually victimized than men being sexually assaulted. This tread would of course carry over to workplace incidents. Age also playing a role as well. The findings being young males between the ages of 20 to 34 having higher rates of workplace violent victimization. This is compared to ones who are significantly much order. Being of marital status now, or before in the form of a widow.

Safety is a very important subject that should be addressed at every place of employment. In today’s world, nobody is safe from a terrorist attack or act of violence towards yourself. More and more we are hearing of people committing crimes of violence in the workforce, public areas, schools, and where there are crowds of people. In my employment, we had an act of violence and threats towards employees. An outsider was doing some volunteer work for us and became too touchy with the other female volunteers and female employees. His behavior was brought to his attention, and he became irate with the male employee and threatened him and the other volunteers working that night. He was removed from the company property, and the police were called. The next day my employer had camera’s and

However, let us suppose for a moment that we have only told our friend that we hate a co-worker and it has not progressed to a confrontational state. Sadly, the employee who harbors the resentment may have a mental illness or emotional instability, which could trigger a sudden, violent response (Heidel, 2016). Now, the other employee has been brought into a compromising position. Ultimately, there has to be a mechanism for employees to feel comfortable reporting real or perceived potential problems. Notably, 86% of all workplace violence could

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), " each week, an average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted at work. Non-fatal assault’s at work result in millions of lost days and cost businesses’ millions of lost workdays. And the most disturbing finding homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace." (http://www.ocpapsych.com/mtart4.htm). As a result, violence in the workplace has received considerable attention in the press and media and also in safety and health professionals.

But the sad reality is workplace violence happens more than you think. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, nearly two million Americans report having been victims of workplace violence each year.

Workplace violence is a serious and growing issue in society. Employers need to develop intervention strategies to decrease reduce violence in the workplace. Also, employers and employees need to be aware of the signs when people exhibit behaviors that can lead to workplace violence. As a society, the issue needs to be acknowledged of the reality and work together for creating a solution. Lastly, employers and employees must not live in fear of addressing concerns if they see the potential for workplace violence or report when they witness or experience workplace violence.