Workplace Violence Essay

Harassment has plagued the world for centuries. Why should the workplace be any different? Sexual harassment and workplace violence are not only of historical roots, but contemporary issues are still present in the workforce today. Managers are addressing and combating modern sexual harassment and workplace violence, however instances still occur (Robbins, Decenzo & Coulter, 2011).

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.

Imagine a violent situation escalates in your work area. Violent workplace situations are becoming more common in today’s work environment. While many of these events seemingly happen in the civilian sector, workplace violence is a current issue in the United States Air Force. Incidents involving fatalities in Myrtle Beach, McGuire, Fairchild, and the Air Force Academy illustrate that all members play a vital role in recognizing potentially violent situations. So while the definition of workplace violence is subject to interpretation, the impact to the workplace quite clear, and the proactive steps taken to prevent and diffuse these situations have huge social and economic benefits.

Unfortunately, workplace violence is all too familiar for most these days. Most think of violence as some sort of physical altercation. However, it’s not only physical, but includes threatening and endangering behavior towards one, or a group of employees. In fact, you may be surprised by some of the actions that are included in workplace violence. Some that you may not think of, but they include and are not limited to: harassment, intimidation, extortion and threats. Obviously, things like assault, kidnapping, homicide, etc… Nearly two million people are involved or victims of workplace violence every year. In the United States, violence is measured with fatal and non-fatal statistics. Violence has surpassed accidental death as the leading

(2004). Safer at work: development and evaluation of an aggression and violence minimization program. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 38(10), 804-810.

And depending on the location, nature, and scope of the workplace violence, parties of concern can develop means to cope with, reduce, or eliminate workplace violence. It is also worthy to note, that the entities involved will determine the extent of any programs developed to combat the matter. For example, law enforcement agencies with reliable and extensive resources may develop a more comprehensive program, than a small private corporation, or a sole proprietor of a small company.

Over all work place violence can be classified as fatal events and nonfatal events; where about 700 people a murdered on the job. There are roughly two million workers a year affected by a form of nonfatal workplace violence, where many have no know knowledge of the individual; there are some that are related to family domestic issues that bleed over into the workforce. (Sahadi, 2015) Many people experience some form of psychological bullying at sometime within their career, according to the bureau of Labor statistics, (2015) there were about 572,000 cases of workplace violence in

I believe that a workplace/institution needs to be committed to wanting to provide a safe workplace. For example, it could begin with a worksite analysis in order to identify potential vulnerabilities in terms of environment and setting. An overview of this analysis would then provide possible opportunities/gaps that exist to develop and subsequently implement proactive safety strategies. Further, it is not only the organization/managers who need to be committed in keeping workers safe/preventing violence, but there should be some form of zero-violence tolerance policy implemented in which employees can follow this policy to the effect that they understand how they are to be involved in the steps or plan that is implemented. For example,

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.

There are two types of workplace violence, internal and external. Internal violence is violence from someone within the company like, fights and situations between employees. External is when there is a violent interaction between employees and someone from outside of the company like, robberies or employees getting into it with customers. According to the U.S. Department of labor every year, about two million people all over the country become victims of some kind of non-fatal violent situation at work. This much violence leads to even greater and more violent situations. There are approximately 1000 workplace homicides committed every year. As an IO Psychologist it is very important to be able to recognize, control, and prevent this type of violence.

The issue of work place violence is becoming more prominent every day. The challenge that managers are facing is how to deal with it before and after the event. The management team must put things in place that allow them to reduce or prevent the possibility of any kind of violent event. These event cans stream from sexual harassment to conflict or even violence. The importance of mangers, at all levels, play in preventing work place violence is failing as more of these types of events are happening. The mass shooting in the workplace have almost become a normal part of life. The shootings are taking place in government facilities and private businesses all over the country. The managers in all these facilities help manage the prevention and, more importantly, the recovery after the events happen.

Unfortunately workplace violence is something that seems like will always happen. When an employee goes to work they want to feel safe and protected because they are usually there just as much as if not more than they are at home. From experience, once you no longer feel safe in your workplace you will no longer want to work there. Two years ago I worked at a bank in Jackson, Tennessee. My co-worker, who was the most sweet and caring woman I had ever met was killed at work due to a violent ex-boyfriend coming to the bank and shooting her. I was witness to this and it was the scariest thing I have ever been a part of. I no longer felt they could protect me and knew I could not find it in myself to return.

Workplace violence is a phenomenon that is now widely recognized as a social problem, which impacts all organizations.

This has become a serious concern and companies now have to take a stand to protect their employees as well as the organization. Workplace violence can have a damaging effect on a company. A company can suffer serious implications if they don’t introduce policies in the workplace that protect employees from becoming a target. Families

Workplace violence takes numerous structures. Corporate and open concern tends to concentrate on pictures of business related crimes, which frequently go with abusive behavior at home circumstances. Different types of workplace violence, for example, grumblings of tormenting and inappropriate behavior, are subtler, yet no less mentally damaging to laborers ' mental and physical wellbeing. (Mathis, John & Sean, 2014). Workplace violence can happen anyplace at any time. Workers in a few commercial enterprises, for example, healthcare or retail foundations, are more probable than others to experience roughness at work.