| Women face a greater likelihood of encountering | | | | person would show up at work. Your friend can |
| workplace violence than men.Workplace violence | | | | be temporarily re-assigned at the facility. The |
| victim: Anyone who has been injured, harmed, or | | | | management and the security are prepared just |
| who has suffered in some way due to acts of | | | | in case of an incident. As a result of your actions |
| another while on the job or due to job related | | | | no lives were lost, including your own.When and |
| factors.Victims are not only those who are the | | | | How to Respond |
| direct targets of a violent act. They may also be | | | | Often intervention is not necessary. If you notice |
| those who innocently witness the act. For | | | | a co-worker who is frustrated or upset, simply |
| example, someone who witnesses a verbal or | | | | asking if they are alright ad offering a listening ear |
| physical attack on a co-worker may suffer | | | | can be enough to diffuse the situation. Taking a |
| emotionally, mentally or physically as a result of | | | | genuine interest in those with whom you work |
| what they saw. Victims may also be the | | | | promotes good moral in your workplace.Signs of |
| unfortunate innocent person who is just at the | | | | Escalation for an EmployeeIs abusing alcohol or |
| wrong place at the wrong time.Types of violence: | | | | drugsHas suffered family trauma such as divorce |
| Among the types of violent acts committed in | | | | or deathLost pay or benefitsFeels unimportantHas |
| the workplace, the following are the most | | | | suffered financial lossHas an unresolved grievance |
| common:HittingSqueezingPinchingScratchingTwisting | | | | at work (perceives it is being ignored)Is having |
| of limbsBitingShootingStabbingStalkingProperty | | | | marital or domestic violence problemIs suffering |
| damageRapeThese are very traumatic | | | | from depressionMakes comments regarding their |
| experiences for the victims. According to the | | | | work being unappreciatedFeels alienated by a |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and | | | | manager or supervisorAs you observe an |
| Health, the above listed incidents resulted in | | | | increasing number of warning signs in a co-worker |
| victims taking 3-30 days off of work. The violent | | | | or an employee, it should signal a greater need |
| episode impacts virtually every aspect of the | | | | for caution, vigilance, and intervention. It is not |
| victim's life. Because of the far-reaching effect on | | | | necessary to judge the motives of an employee |
| every aspect of the workplace, the problem | | | | or co-worker. Just write down what you |
| must not be taken lightly. | | | | observe.Warning Signs |
| Domestic disputes are increasingly becoming a | | | | If you observe an increasing number of these |
| factor in workplace violence because the partner | | | | signs in a co-worker, vender, or visitor, the |
| is easy to locate at work... | | | | problem must be addressed immediately. Contact |
| Domestic Violence and Other Factors | | | | your Supervisor, Human Resource, or Security. If |
| Domestic disputes have become an important | | | | not, the likelihood increases and the behavior may |
| factor in workplace violence incidents. An angry | | | | escalate to a violent incident.Direct threatsAngry |
| spouse or significant other may come to the | | | | outburstsBeing verbally abusiveMaking serious |
| workplace because his/her partner is easy to find | | | | threatsTalking about harming a spouse or |
| there. And often when a spouse is served with | | | | co-workerObsession with violenceVeiled |
| divorce papers or a court order of protection | | | | threatsChemical/alcohol abuseSerious financial |
| they are more likely to attempt to go to the | | | | problems cant seem to concentrateBlaming other |
| workplace and confront the employee. And these | | | | consistentlyParanoiaExtreme withdrawalIncreased |
| violent incidents often affect and involve other | | | | personal stressIntimidation of othersReckless |
| innocent victims.Unique phenomena are the | | | | increased accidentsIncrease of the above |
| growing numbers of workers who tend to define | | | | mentioned behaviorsFurther Signs To |
| who they are by their jobs. This presents | | | | WatchBoundary crossing. They tend to push the |
| challenges for you as the employer when | | | | limits of acceptable behavior and they continue to |
| conducting reviews. Since the review or appraisal | | | | test the established rules.Inconsistent work |
| is part of your company process, an employee | | | | patterns and attendance problems. This is very |
| may view this as a personal judgment and feel | | | | common with alcohol and drug abuse. You'll also |
| angry or resentful.And an employee who is | | | | notice swings of either very high or very low |
| unexpectedly fired may seek revenge upon those | | | | productivity.Personality disorders. Their behavior |
| who terminated them. Some employees return | | | | has changed. They will become abusive and they |
| months or years later to seek revenge.Societal | | | | will justify their behavior. They are manipulative, |
| Factors | | | | preoccupied with themselves, argumentative, and |
| Much of what we all see in the media today is | | | | will show signs of dramatic mood |
| violent in nature. The underlying message seems | | | | swings.Pathological blamers. They just will not take |
| to imply approval of violence in our society. | | | | responsibility for their own behavior. Notice if they |
| Weapons are also more available than in recent | | | | say things like "They're out to get me" or when |
| years. And drugs and alcohol play a role in violent | | | | they blame someone else for something they did. |
| situations.As violent acts become commonplace, | | | | Common Mistakes |
| society becomes desensitized to the violence. And | | | | Tolerance of violent behavior only leads to |
| violence becomes more acceptable. This impacts | | | | increased violence. Some common mistakes |
| everyone at work, in the community, and the | | | | co-workers make are:Ignore aggressive |
| home. It then becomes the responsibility of every | | | | behaviorNot wanting to get involvedCovering up |
| worker to help prevent violence in the workplace | | | | to protect a friendFailure to report aggressive |
| where possible. Tolerance of violence leads to an | | | | behavior to managementConsistently attempt to |
| increase of violence. | | | | deal with the situation aloneDomestic Violence |
| According to the National Institute of Safety | | | | Victim Resource GuideVictims's |
| employees at risk for violence in the workplace | | | | Responsibilities:Report all incidents that occur to |
| include:Delivering goods and servicesWorking late | | | | the police.Follow through wit the State's |
| or early morning hoursWorking aloneGuarding | | | | Attorney's Office.Seek an order of protection |
| valuable property and goodsDealing with violent or | | | | which prohibits the offender from continuing their |
| volatile situationsThose employees with the most | | | | behavior.Do not initiate any further contact with |
| frequent interaction with the public are those who | | | | the person, unless advised to do so by legal |
| experience the highest incidence of workplace | | | | counsel, police, or other appropriate support |
| violence. Remember that it can happen anywhere, | | | | personnel/organization/agency.Advise your |
| in any workplace at any time. Having a greater | | | | employer, security and human resource of all |
| knowledge is a successful tool in dealing with | | | | incidents that occur at the workplace.If you have |
| workplace violence.Common Traits of a | | | | obtained an order of protection, give a copy to |
| Perpetrator are:Easily frustratedAnti-social | | | | security, human resources, and your immediate |
| behaviorVery DefensiveHas low self-esteemNot | | | | supervisor along with a recent photo, if |
| adaptableConsistently avoids blameHolds | | | | possible.Always keep a copy of your order of |
| grudgesLacks self controlHistory of substance | | | | protection papers with you at all times.Victim's |
| abuseAbusive to animalsSuspicious of | | | | Safety:Let someone close to you, a friend, |
| othersHistory of family problemsThis list suggests | | | | relative, or co-worker know everything about |
| common traits of those who are or can become | | | | what is happening.Advise someone at all times of |
| violent in the workplace.Pattern of escalation:No | | | | your schedule, and if your plans change.Whenever |
| two situations will be the same. The following | | | | possible, alternate your daily routine(s). Don't leave |
| sequence will provide an example of a common | | | | for work at the usual time, if you have children |
| pattern:1. Some sort of trauma is suffered. This | | | | make arrangements to have others you trust |
| may be:A single traumatic event at home or | | | | pick them up. Park your vehicle in a well-lit |
| workA series of minor events2. Blame is placed | | | | area.Always have your car keys in your hand as |
| on the situation, rather than taking personal | | | | you approach your vehicle.If possible have |
| responsibility.3. Believes the problem is unsolvable.4. | | | | someone with you when you are leaving |
| Increased social withdrawal. Attention becomes | | | | work.Consider changing your telephone |
| focused on self and situation.5. Belief that a violent | | | | number.Additional Suggestions:Keep a log of all |
| act is the only way out of the problem.6. The | | | | threatening and harassing phone callsConsider |
| violent act is attempted or committed.While | | | | obtaining a Caller ID and/or call back feature *69) |
| violent behavior is not always a result of these | | | | on your home phone.Check into other features |
| factors, caution is warranted when these factors | | | | Ameritech offers in your area.Consider installing a |
| are observed.Being Part of the Solution | | | | home alarm security system.Change the locks in |
| Often the first question that comes to mind is | | | | your home.Consider installing additional lighting on |
| why should I do something about it? As a | | | | the outside of your home.Gather important |
| co-worker, friend, or associate, it may save a life. | | | | documents such as lease, rental agreements, |
| You may feel helpless or that nothing you could | | | | house deed, Mortgage payment book, birth |
| possibly do will make one bit of difference, but | | | | certificate(s), bank check books, credit cards, |
| you are wrong.Let's say that a co-worker tells | | | | medical records, insurance documents, etc. And |
| you in confidence that because of the abuse in | | | | keep these items together or give them to |
| their marriage they are finally ready to have their | | | | someone you trust for safekeeping.website: |
| partner served as well as obtain an order of | | | | website blog and resource: |
| protection. You know that your friend's partner | | | | Email address: Susan Murphy-Milano, respected |
| has a history of violence, and you are trying to | | | | author and nationally recognized workplace |
| be supportive and keep your friend's secret. This | | | | violence and relationship expert, has been a |
| is a mistake. First, encourage your friend to tell | | | | tireless advocate for all types of violence. In |
| their supervisor or someone in Human Resources | | | | January of 1989, Susan's father, a Chicago Violent |
| and/or security.Her partner may become so | | | | Crimes Detective, murdered her mother and then |
| angry that he storms his way into your | | | | took his own life. In 1993 she was instrumental in |
| workplace with a weapon and harms others. | | | | the passage of the Illinois Stalking law. Susan's |
| Perhaps a hostage situation takes place. As a | | | | quest for justice has been trumpted across the |
| result seven people died and nine were injured | | | | pages of newspapers, magazine, radio and |
| because you kept silent.Now, let's say you | | | | television. She is the author of "Moving Out |
| encourage your friend to tell a supervisor or | | | | Moving On" when a relationship goes wrong and |
| security person prior to either filing the court | | | | "Defending Our Lives" getting away from |
| documents or when they return back to work, a | | | | domestic violence & staying safe (doubleday). She |
| safety plan can be implemented immediately. For | | | | is a sought after speaker and her publications and |
| instance photos of the person can be distributed | | | | books appear across the globe. |
| to all the entranceways in the event that the | | | | |