The Effects Of Workplace Violence On The Workplace

There is no standard ‘profile’ of a person who commits workplace violence, and by no means is someone a threat just because they display one of these traits. Employees that exhibit many of these traits, and with increasing intensity, may be a danger and may need some help. Being able to identify these signs and warning signals, and reporting it to management timely can help prevent a workplace violence incident.

Workplace violence has become a concern for both public and private companies, and has prompted these companies to implement anti-violence programs.

Workplace violence includes any incident in which an employee is threatened, intimated, verbally or physically attacked, harassed, injured or killed. Workplace, or occupational violence, as it is sometimes referred to, has and can occur in almost all types of settings, from large to small, private to public and rural to urban. Therefore, there is a demonstrated need for firms of all types, sizes and in all locations to become aware of the seriousness of

This research paper discusses workplace violence, specifically the nursing population. Using results from previous research conducted, negative factors impacting a nurse and solutions to this issue are explored. There is a lack of reporting causing this issue of workplace violence to be difficult to determine interventions and bring about public awareness. Looking at the historical background of workplace violence in health care settings, researching the emotional and physical effects on nurses, discovering the effects on work competency, and uncovering the facts on federal legislation of this issue warrants the importance

OSHA Fact Sheet (2012) states “ workplace violence is a violence or the threat of violence against workers” (p.1). Workplace violence causes serious harm to employees or homicide that can lead to deaths. Act in any kind of shapes and forms such as: physical threat, threatening behavior, intention of assault and battery, verbal abuse, beating, stabbing, rape, shooting, being followed, psychological trauma, suicide, treat or obscene phone call/text, intimidation. Workplace violence can happen to anyone, anywhere at or outside the workplace location either during from/to work or from/to client’s traveling temporary or permanent where any work-related duty performances. It is not limited to just employees, but also customers, clients, and invitees. Workplace violence is one of the most concerns for not just employers, but worldwide workers.

Workplace violence most often involves aggressive behavior towards peers, subordinates, supervisors, and other members of the workforce. This can range from verbal abuse to physical violence. Aggression may occur as a response to many situations. Common examples are when individuals face the loss of a job, are passed over for promotion, or perceive favoritism toward others in the work environment.

Stopping Lateral Violence of any type in the workplace, specifically in the field of nursing is essential not only for one’s physical and mental wellbeing but for continued success professionally and socially. Lateral or Horizontal violence or abuse in the workplace is violence occurring between workers; it includes both overt and covert acts of aggression (Donley, 2012). This aggression can be verbal and nonverbal, and comes in many forms. “Lateral violence in any form feels bad and creates fear which prevents one from being at his or her best (Donley 2012). According to Donley, you cannot be productive in a fearful environment because you may experience any range of these emotions including but not limited to feeling violated, anxious, stressed, disrespected or angry (2012).

International Council of Nurses (ICN). (2007). Guidelines on coping with violence in the workplace. Geneva: ICN.

According to the FBI, workplace violence is the number one growing homicide in the United States. There are an estimated 225,000 to 300,000 occurrences of violence each year. Despite the aforementioned statistic, some managers have simply failed to address the issue of workplace violence. Such negligence has not necessarily been purposeful. It has been due to a lack of awareness of the problem coupled with a preoccupation of everyday pressures.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) characterizes workplace violence as a demonstration of animosity coordinated toward persons at work or on duty, extending from hostile or debilitating language to homicide. Workplace violence is a major occupational hazard for healthcare providers local and global and needs more media and public attention. A report done by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 1.7 million workers are injured each year due to assaults at work. Although homicides rates remain low in the healthcare setting, assaults remain the highest than any other institution (Gacki-Smith, et al., 2009).

Most incidents are not recorded so it is difficult to determine exactly how many there are, but when we look at who is vulnerable we find that over two million American workers experience violence in the workplace. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at anytime. Some of the areas that are at risk are high stress environments, places that involve the public, and places where money is handled. An analysis of where workplace violence occurs by the Labor Department revealed the statistics below.

The expression of violence takes many forms, ranging from physical assault and verbal abuse to intimidation and low level threatening behavior. The term ‘violence at work’ applies to ‘any incident in which employees and others are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances arising out of, or during work undertaken. This also includes employers, self-employed people and any other person who may be affected by a violent incident in the workplace. A violent incident is usually "sparked" by something that causes the employee in question to erupt. This is especially true if the individual is already feeling vulnerable or has low self-esteem. Behaviors of concern can be the beginning to greater levels of violence. Workplace violence is related

There are several levels of workplace violence. Level one is being disrespectful to other co-workers, not cooperating, verbally abusing others, or simply intimidating and manipulating them. For level of workplace violence, an employees should report this, and seek help responding to the situation. If the person is the supervisor, you report it to upper management and appropriate response action should take place. As upper management you should meet privately with the accused individual, and ask the employee for their side of the story. Reiterate what is acceptable behavior within the company, and correct the issues they may have. (U.S. Department of Labor, 2016). The second level will be escalation. The employee may begin to argue with customers,

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.

Workplace violence is more common than people realize and it can happen to anyone. No one is safe no matter who they are. Violence can happen to someone who was just recently hired or someone who has been with the company for ten years. The employee could be an intern or a manager even. Violence is defined as an act of physical or verbal abuse, harassment, or a threatening behavior (Safety and Health Topics). These acts can be carried out by an employee, customers, or even strangers. The violence is not always between two employees at a workplace either. It can be between an employee and a customer or an employee and a random stranger on the street, but it counts as workplace violence as long as it is on the company property or on the companies’ time.