ComplyRightComplyRightComplyRightComplyRight
  • RESOURCES
    • Knowledge Center
      • Tip Sheets
      • E-Guides
      • Podcasts
      • Infographics
      • Videos
    • Webinars
      • Upcoming
      • On Demand
    • Research and Trends
      • Compliance Survey
      • Trend Surveys
      • Minimum Wage Monitor
    • HR 101 Courses

      HR 101 Courses
      Learn More
  • TOPICS
    • I want to learn about:
      • Hiring an Employee
      • Creating Policies
      • Paying Employees
      • Discrimination & Harassment
    • Column 2
      • Employment Law
      • Labor Law Postings
      • Employee Leave
      • Employee Recordkeeping
    • Category 3
      • Independent Contractors
      • Tax Reporting
      • Improving Employee Performance
      • Firing an Employee
    • Would Your Workplace Practices Hold Up in an EEOC Investigation?

      EEOC Investigation
      Read More
  • SOLUTIONS
    • Employee Management
      • Hiring
      • Time and Attendance
      • Training and Safety
      • Recordkeeping
      • Employee Policies
    • Labor Law Posters
      • Poster Guard® Service
      • ComplyRight Posters
      • Electronic Posters
      • Employee Handouts
      • Partner Solutions
    • Tax Information Reporting
      • DIY Filing Solutions
      • Processing Services
      • Partner Solutions
    • Featured Solution

      Poster Guard Compliance Protection
      Learn More
  • ABOUT
    • Who is ComplyRight
      • Mission
      • Core Values
      • Leaders
      • Newsroom
      • Contact
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Benefits and Perks
    • Brands
      • HRdirect
      • HRdirect Smart Apps
      • Poster Guard
      • eFile4Biz
    • Join Our Team

      Join Our Team
      Learn More
  • SUBSCRIBE

You Can Make a Difference: How to Curb Workplace Violence Before It Erupts

You Can Make a Difference: How to Curb Workplace Violence Before It Erupts
Published on September 12, 2018
  • Policies

As an employer or manager, you’re responsible for keeping workers safe. This includes preventing violence in the workplace. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 2 million American workers are victims of some sort of workplace violence each year.

Here are answers to common questions about this concerning matter:

What Is Workplace Violence?

Workplace violence is hostility or the threat of hostility against employees. It can occur at or outside the workplace — and can range from threats and verbal abuse to outright physical assault. Whatever form it takes, workplace violence is a growing concern for employers and employees alike.

Who Is Vulnerable to Workplace Violence?

Although no workplace is completely safe, certain employees are at increased risk. This includes workers who:

  • Exchange money with the public
  • Transport passengers, goods or services
  • Work alone or in small groups
  • Work late at night or early in the morning
  • Work in high-crime areas

Violence can erupt in a variety of relationships, as well. The most obvious is between two colleagues, but violent incidents can also involve a customer, client, patient or student (where the violence is directed at caregivers, police officers, flight attendants or teachers, for example). And often, domestic violence can spill into the workplace, as well.

You need to have formal policies in place for both workplace violence and weapons in the workplace.

What Can I Do to Protect Employees?

It’s important to carefully inspect your workplace. Where appropriate, install video surveillance, lighting and alarm systems. Minimize access by outsiders through identification badges, electronic keys and security guards.

Additionally, you can:

  • Provide drop safes to limit the amount of cash on hand: Employees should have only a minimal amount of cash in registers, especially at night. Post signs stating that workers have no access to safes and only have a small amount of money on hand.
  • Equip field staff with cellular phones: Require your staff to prepare a daily work plan and keep a contact person informed of their location throughout the day.
  • Instruct employees not to enter any location where they feel unsafe: Introduce a “buddy system” or provide an escort in potentially dangerous situations or at night.
  • Provide violence prevention training: Educate employees on the early warning signs of hostility among coworkers, patients or customers — and what steps they can take to diffuse escalating situations, such as removing themselves from the scene and reporting any concerns to management immediately.
  • Offer an employee assistance program (EAP): This popular employee benefit provides confidential, professional counseling to help employees dealing with personal issues, such as stress, domestic conflicts and other situations that can lead to violence.

Can I Ban Guns on My Company Property?

It depends on your state. Although no federal law regulates weapons at work, several states have enacted some form of guns-at-work laws — and they vary greatly. Some states allow employers to totally ban weapons at work, including company parking lots. Others have passed laws that permit employees to store guns in their cars, and many states only allow such prohibitions if the proper notices are posted.

What’s the Best Way to Address Workplace Violence Issues?

You need to have formal policies in place for both workplace violence and weapons in the workplace. And they need to be clearly communicated to your employees. For tips on creating workplace violence policies, download our free tip sheet, Workplace Violence and Weapons: 10 Tips for Creating Effective and Legal Policies.

SA Company Policies | Policies

HRdirect Smart Apps - Company Policies

Related Content

  • Social Media Rules for Employees
    5 Ways to Establish and Enforce Social Media Rules for Employees
    July 27, 2020

    Social media is a powerful tool for sharing information and exchanging ideas. From Facebook and Twitter to LinkedIn and Instagram, … Read more

    Policies

  • Employee Productivity
    5 Essential Workplace Policies to Boost Employee Productivity
    July 6, 2020

    An employee policy manual or handbook is a vital resource for any responsible, law-abiding business. But beyond the legal protection … Read more

    Policies

    HR Basics

    Remote Workers

  • How to enforce employee attendance
    Do You Know How to Enforce Employee Attendance? Follow These 9 Pointers
    March 4, 2020

    It’s 40 minutes into an employee’s shift and he’s nowhere to be found. Worse yet, you haven’t heard from him … Read more

    Policies

    Attendance

  • Social Media Policy: Eight Tips for Fostering Responsible Engagement
    Social Media Policy: Eight Tips for Fostering Responsible Engagement
    August 2019

    Do you have a social media policy for your business? If you haven’t created one with clarity surrounding what is … Read more

    Policies

  • 7 Top Company Policies for Changing Workplaces
    7 Top Company Policies for Changing Workplaces
    February 2019

    The days when an employee handbook only covered a handful of key issues, such as breaks, dress code and time … Read more

    Policies

    Remote Workers

    Sexual Harassment

  • Can You Discipline Employees for Conduct Outside the Workplace? Nine Common Scenarios
    Can You Discipline Employees for Conduct Outside the Workplace? Nine Common Scenarios
    January 15, 2019

    An employer’s right to discipline employees for actions outside the workplace is not always clear-cut. Even in states covered by … Read more

    Policies

    Discipline

  • 5 Legal Steps to Calm Political Discussions in the Workplace
    October 24, 2018

    Unless you live under a rock, avoiding political discussions has become virtually impossible these days. An unconventional campaign and presidency … Read more

    Policies

    Politics at Work

  • Discussing Politics in the Workplace: What to Do When It Gets Out of Hand
    October 16, 2018

    Political conversations have spilled into every area of our lives, including our workplaces. And while workplace discussions about the latest … Read more

    Policies

    Politics at Work

Newsletter Subscribe

Get the latest news and free resources from ComplyRight delivered straight to your inbox.

Thank You

You've just unlocked a wealth of FREE resources to build HR confidence.

ComplyRight provides free educational resources related to employee management, labor law and compliance. Better understand HR basics and learn how to address specific issues by browsing our knowledge center.

Please enter a valid email address.

Thank you. We already have your email address on file.

An error occurred while processing your request. Please try again.

Upcoming Webinar

Webinar Name

Date & Time

Presented by:

Learn More
Shop Our Brands 
HRdirect
HRdirect Smart Apps
Poster Guard
Formstax eFile4Biz

At ComplyRight, our mission is to free employers from the burden of tracking and complying with the complex web of federal, state and local employment laws, so they can stay focused on managing and growing their businesses.

©2020 ComplyRight, Inc.

Resources

  • Knowledge Center
  • Webinars
  • Research and Trends
  • Courses

Solutions

  • Employee Management
  • Labor Law Posters
  • Tax Information Reporting

About

  • Who is ComplyRight
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Brands

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Popular Topics

Performance Policies Employee Leave Discrimination and Harassment Employment Law HiringLabor Law PostingsIndependent Contractors

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe

Follow Us

  • RESOURCES
    • Knowledge Center
      • Tip Sheets
      • E-Guides
      • Podcasts
      • Infographics
      • Videos
    • Webinars
      • Upcoming
      • On Demand Webinars
    • Research and Trends
      • Compliance Survey
      • Trend Surveys
      • Minimum Wage Monitor
    • HR 101 Courses
  • TOPICS
    • Hiring an Employee
    • Creating Policies
    • Paying Employees
    • Discrimination & Harassment
    • Employment Law
    • Labor Law Postings
    • Employee Leave
    • Employee Recordkeeping
    • Independent Contractors
    • Tax Reporting
    • Improving Employee Performance
    • Firing an Employee
  • SOLUTIONS
    • Employee Management
      • Hiring
      • Time and Attendance
      • Training and Safety
      • Recordkeeping
      • Employee Policies
    • Labor Law Posters
      • ComplyRight Posters
      • Poster Guard®
      • Partner Solutions
    • Tax Information Reporting
      • DIY Filling Solutions
      • Processing Services
      • Partner Solutions
  • ABOUT
    • Who is ComplyRight
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Brands
    • Contact Us
  • SUBSCRIBE
ComplyRight