Workplace Violence – A report to the nation

from the University of Iowa

Violence in the workplace. Every few days, there is another story on the news. One day, it may be a convenience store shooting; the next, a sexual assault in a company parking lot; a few days later, it’s a disgruntled employee holding workers hostage, or a student attacking a teacher.

Not surprisingly, the incidents of workplace violence that make the news are only the tip of the iceberg. What its victims all have in common is that they were at work, going about the business of earning a living, but something about their workplace environment — often something foreseeable and preventable—exposed them to attack by a customer, a co-worker, an acquaintance, or even a complete stranger.

Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year. It is estimated that costs of workplace violence to employers is in the billions of dollars. Unfortunately, research into the prevention of violence in the workplace is still in its infancy.