Case Study

A STUDY ON WORKPLACE VIOLENCE FACTORS IN FLEET SUPPLY DEPOT, ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAVY

By: Anizan B. Ali

1.0 Introduction

Violence has its effects on the employees and on organization as a whole, and it will cost too much by ignoring it. Broadly defined, workplace violence includes physical assault, threatening behavior, and verbal abuse, as defined by Whitmore and Kleiner (1999). Violence at the workplace reveals issues surrounding violence at work. Violence at work is increasingly becoming a cause for concern within organizations. Workplace violence can strike anywhere, and no one is immune. Workers who are at increased risk are workers who exchange money with the public; deliver passengers, goods, or services; or work alone or in small groups, during late night or early morning hours, in high-crime areas, or in community settings and homes where they have extensive contact with the public.

Workplace violence is sometimes caused by a laid-off employee, an estranged spouse, or a stressed-out worker, as mentioned by Johnson, Lewis, and Gardner (1995). Workplace violence continues to be considered a prevalent problem for organizations. Its effects include lowered productivity, increased employee stress and absenteeism (Corney, 2008), lawsuits, increased insurance premiums, tarnished reputations (Atkinson, 2000), reduced customer satisfaction and costly property damage (Walkup, 1999). In addition to the direct medical and legal costs of workplace violence, related costs also include a decline in company morale and consequent loss of productivity, increased absenteeism, higher employee turnover, and damage to a company’s credibility and reputation (Carll, 1999).

1.1 Information about Fleet Supply Depot.

The Navy Logistics Depot has been operating as a pillar of naval logistics needs since 1960 in Woodland, Singapore and later moved to the Lumut Naval Base in 1985. On the 3rd April 1985 it was opened as the Central Logistics Navy Depot (CNLD) by Deputy Minister...