Workplace Violence Prevention

There are many policies and procedures that if implemented can reduce the risk of violence in the workplace. Anti-harassment and discrimination, substance abuse, business conduct, and electronic communications/computer use policies can help to eliminate behaviors and acts that cause workers to violently react to coworkers who they believe are bullying, abusing, or threatening. Any work environment that tolerates threatening or abusive behavior is at risk.

Related policies that establish an employer’s right to access an employee’s workplace computer, desk, locker, and other items may be necessary to investigate a credible complaint.

Risk factors that may expose employees to higher incidence of violence include working at night, working alone (on or off-premises), handling cash; and interacting with persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Workers in night retail establishments, healthcare institutions (especially emergency departments), and social services agencies are particularly at risk.

Circumstances or stressors such an impending layoffs or organizational change that elevate tension, stress, or conflict in the workplace should be recognized and appropriate measures taken to mitigate risk.

Termination of employment can be the cause for workplace violence, so planning in advance may be warranted. Planning should begin with a threat assessment; provision of assistance for terminated employees to transition to the next phase of their life, and security measures during and following the termination meeting.

Establishing a threat assessment team to evaluate threatening behaviors and incidents is a good practice and common in public schools and higher education. Suggested team members include human resources, security, legal, safety, union representative, employee assistance program (EAP) provider, outside mental health professionals, and law enforcement.

For more information on prevention and deterrence of acts of violence as well as emergency response and recovery planning, read the Preparedness Bulletin: Acts of Violence. Be sure to check all of the Preparedness Bulletins, our lengthy list of curated hyperlinks to preparedness resources on the internet, and our comprehensive program self-assessment checklist. It includes more than 200 questions to help you evaluate your preparedness program.