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It seems that every day the newspaper reports a new case of violence in the workplace. From post office massacres to fist fights in the factory, these sudden and sometimes deadly outbursts have become a part of our culture. Experts are divided on the subject, blaming causes as diverse as the availability of guns, violence in the media, stress, and childhood abuse. With so many possible causes, is there any way to prevent workplace violence? The truth is that although there is no easy, one-step solution to the growing trend towards workplace violence, there are ways to make sure it doesn't happen in one's own workplace. By following a few simple guidelines, one can greatly decrease the occurrence of violent incidents. One quick and easy method of violence prevention is to never hire employees with violent tendencies. Although this may seem to be a simplistic approach, it is actually very effective because an overwhelming majority of violent offenders in these cases share several distinct characteristics. For instance, most are loners who harbor the delusion that others are responsible for their own misfortunes and most have considerable psychological trauma. In this example, one could ascertain whether a job applicant had these tendencies by asking questions about their previous job, focusing on why they are changing jobs and how they interacted with other employees. One should focus not only on what the person is saying, but on how. If an applicant shows a disproportionate amount of irritance or discomfort when answering this should also be taken into consideration. Another more obvious tip is to do a background check on potential employees, screening for previous violent outbursts and asking previous employers about the applicant's disposition and work history. Often, employees who react to situations violently do so because they have no other outlet for expressing themselves to their superiors. By instituting some sort of communication network between supervisors and their employees, everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and their ideas for making the company work more efficiently. Additionally, the increase in communication can help make potential problem employees more social, which can aid in eliminating those loner tendencies which often lead to conflict. Sometimes a traumatic event in the life of an employee can trigger violence. In cases like this, the period before an outburst is generally preceded by a dramatic change in personality or appearance. For instance, a worker who is usually very clean might start coming to work without shaving or showering. If an employee acts in such a way, the key to preventing violence is to talk to the person and get them help, whether it be psychological evaluation or a temporary leave from work. It should be emphasized that this type of action is entirely legal. Although the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) protects the physically and mentally disabled from discrimination, it does not protect a disability if it presents an immediate threat of substantial harm. To help an employee receive this assistance as soon as possible, supervisors should make sure that all employees are aware of the warning signs of someone experiencing psychological distress. One good way of alerting all employees to this information is to send out a memo or to discuss the information at a meeting. Another key to dealing with possibly violent workers is to make sure all supervisors have received proper training. An untrained manager is more likely to place undue stress on employees or to act towards a worker in an insensitive manner. Although this may seem minor, to a person with psychological problems it can be taken out of proportion. There are also some ways that society as a whole could decrease workplace violence. For instance, if the media had fewer images of carnage, there would be less tolerance of violence in society. Also, if the public was more accepting of those with mental illness, more would be encouraged to seek help for their affliction. Some ways to encourage society in these regards are to write political and social leaders informing them of your viewpoint. It may take some time, but if enough people write it can really make a difference. When all these guidelines are followed, the result is a workplace with less violence. Through good hiring techniques, open communication, alertness, training, and activism, you can make the office a safer place. |