Wolf in the Workplace

Real Workplace Violence Prevention: Managing Fear On the Job

By: Steve Albrecht, Dr.

As more incidents of workplace violence fill the newspapers and newscasts worldwide, many managers and supervisors worry now about their responses to cases of injury or death in their organizations. The truth is the real potential for violence in most firms comes from threats. As such, occupational violence prevention is really about managing fear on the job. Consider these intervention steps:

  • With corporate liability at high levels for failing to recognize and intervene in this issue, it's time to get the necessary training and prepare for it, just as you would any other employee behavioral problem, e.g., sexual harassment or on-the-job substance abuse.
  • Learn how to interview and hire and carefully, including when and how to do legal background checks. Look for past work-related behavioral problems as an indicator of future ones.
  • Use well-crafted written policies and procedures to communicate to all employees what is and is not appropriate workplace behavior, including the possible sanctions for subsequent violations.
  • Watch for hostile, intimidating, or overly-aggressive behavior from current or former employees; customers, vendors, or others with a peripheral organizational relationship; or current or former spouses or partners of these people.
  • Educate your employees and subordinates as to warning signs related to anger, stress, and other irrational or excessive behaviors that may lead to a fearful, hostile, or dangerous workplace. Encourage them to bring these problems to your immediate attention.
  • Use the power of your organization's many employee-related resources, e.g., the Human Resources and Security Departments, Employee Assistance Programs, corporate legal counsel, to help you to solve these kinds of problems collectively.
As “Crime in the Streets” continues to spill over to become “Crime in the Suites,” we can prevent future occurrences by recognizing this organizational issue is both a mirror of our violence-plagued world and one that demands careful management intervention.