The reality of violence in the workplace: stop being scared; start acting smart

Violence in the workplace, including incidents associated with domestic abuse, has been causing increasing concern, and for good reason. Each year, more than two million people become victims of violent crime at work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A recent survey by Pinkerton Inc. of Fortune 1000 security executives revealed that workplace violence is considered the most important security threat to America's largest corporations. Based on these statistics and the rising number of incidents across the country, what should be done by various organizations in terms of intervention and prevention? What are the early clues and warning signs to possible threats of violence at the work site? And what is the role of the security director and others in making the workplace safe? First and foremost, three leading consultants on workplace violence recommend the formation of multidisciplinary threat assessment teams--supported by top management and including participation from security and area law enforcement--to develop violence prevention plans for increasing awareness and spelling out rules and procedures for heading off trouble. Other suggested steps to reduce the threat and likelihood of violence occurring also are presented in this report.