Gb520 Final Project

Violence in the Workplace

Abstract

The goal behind this paper is to identify the different types of workplace violence and the different ways to deal with these types of situations. There are many different types of work environments and each one may require that individual plans be implemented in order to ensure employee safety. The most important thing to recognize, however, is that violence can erupt in any environment and preparedness is the key. Examples will be given to offer up an understanding of what exactly constitutes workplace violence. Suggestions will be given as a way to help an organization in creating policies to ensure a safe work environment for their employees.

In this paper workplace violence will be defined as any situation that may increase in intensity and threaten the safety of any employee and/or have an impact on any employee’s physical or mental well-being. Workplace violence can include homicide, assault, threats, mobbing and bullying on the job.

“In an attempt to more clearly delineate what is meant by workplace violence, the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) 6 pointed out that there are basically three types of workplace violence:

• Violence occurring primarily due to robberies with the aim of obtaining something of value from the workplace, the off ender having no legitimate right to be on the premises

• Violent acts committed by individuals who have a legitimate right to be on the premises as recipients or providers of services (e.g., clients, patients, students, customers, etc.)

• Violent occurrences that happen to involve co-workers and may also involve people in superior or subordinate positions” (Paludi, Nydegger, & Paludi, 2006)

There are many definitions of workplace violence, but it is most important to understand that when a person act aggressively towards another person or the physical property of a business that this needs to be dealt with...