Workplace Violence: What Small Business Owners Need to Know

from American Banking News

Are you wondering what workplace violence is and if it can affect your business? While no business owner or manger wants to think that this type of situation could ever occur in his or her company, it’s a fact that violence in the workplace is a very real problem that can affect any company, regardless of size or industry.

Workplace violence refers to any acts of violence that occur in the workplace. It can be acts or threats of violence between coworkers, but that is not the only form of workplace violence. In many cases, workplace violence occurs when spouses, family members, or acquaintances of employees come to the workplace and threaten or harm people who work for the company. This is particularly likely in situations where workers live in situations where domestic violence is a problem or may be involved in gang activity.

Acts of violence in the workplace can also be committed by strangers or even customers. Disgruntled customers, for example, who don’t feel they can get their needs met in a constructive manner many lash out and harm – or attempt to harm – company representatives. Workplace violence committed by strangers often occurs in the form of robbery attempts.

As a small business owner, it’s essential for you to educate yourself about what workplace violence is and to take steps to ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible. Every company should have a policy for dealing with these types of situations that provides avenues for reporting suspected workplace violence problems to management without fear of reprisal. The policy should be clearly communicated to employees and management should take care to ensure that all workers know what to do if they become aware of a problem (actual or potential) of this nature.

It’s also important to put safety procedures in place to minimize the risk of workplace violence problems. For example, look at the entrances and exits to your building and consider whether or not they are secure enough. Would it be difficult for an intruder to enter your place of business undetected? Is the work environment just as secure during the evening shifts as it is during the daytime? Is there a way to tell if people belong in the workplace or not, such as uniforms or name badges?

Workplace violence is a significant problem, with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimating that approximately two million members of the U.S. workforce are affected in some way by workplace violence each year. The problem is, unfortunately, all too common. That’s why everyone who manages or owns a business must take steps to become informed about this reality and to put systems in place for ensuring that the workplace is as safe as it can possibly be for everyone.