Workplace businesses and organizations are dealing with a new concern nowadays, and that is workplace violence. It is common to experience some verbal arguments and fights in the workplace among colleagues, but these can escalate into verbal threats and physical fights soon enough if not controlled. The solution to this is understanding and controlling the risk factors.
The risk factors for workplace violence include working in an isolated location, having access to weapons or dangerous equipment, and being a part of the healthcare sector. However, it is noteworthy that not all employees subjected to these factors participate in violent behavior. If you were injured in a workplace fight, consult with an attorney for employment rights guide today. Meanwhile, here are some steps employers can take for the same.
Steps employers can take to prevent workplace violence.
Conduct a risk assessment.
It is important to know the types of violence that can occur in your workplace before implementing a prevention strategy. It is possible through risk assessment. This process involves identifying different types of risk factors that may result in workplace violence. It includes mental health issues, access to weapons, and sexual harassment. Conducting an employee survey or giving them a personality test will help you assess your employees’ risk factors.
Create a policy that prevents harassment.
Harassment is a troubling behavior that intimidates others. This poor behavior serves as a warning sign for violence and results in an offensive work environment. Therefore, creating a harassment prevention policy becomes a crucial step to preventing the possibility of violence in the workplace. Each level of the facility should be involved while creating this policy, including employees, managers, and executives.
Provide employee training and support.
You can provide additional training and support to the employees who are at a higher risk of violence. An employee risk assessment will help you determine such employees who need additional care and support. For example, you can offer special coaching and support, such as mental health services or employee assistance programs, to employees who are prone to violence due to their personality traits.
Create a supportive environment.
Training programs are meant to develop relationships and understandings between the employees. It is important to make your employees feel supported and heard at work. This will help the workers to be more open with you who are facing domestic violence. It is important that workers who are reporting verbal threats or violence at work should not face reprisals and be supported.
