Research - "Violence in the Workplace"
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The findings of this study validate other research indicating that workplace violence is a pervasive problem. They also provide support for focusing on management practices as a means of reducing levels of violence. Findings include:

1. Forty-three percent of organizations reported having a violent incident within the last three years.
2. Violence is not increasing overall at a substantial rate as measured by trend data questions; however, there are certain underlying factors that are associated with increased rates of violence:
   1. Violence is associated with factors relating to employee health. Taken together, higher scores for such health-related variables as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) usage, absences, medical leave and worker compensation claims were positively associated with 10 different violence trends.
   2. Increased drug use, an increase in major and minor crimes on the premise and an increase in grafitti were positively associated with increasing trends for activities including fraud, bombings and murder threats.
3. Researchers for this study expected that Employee Assistance programs would prove to be effective in reducing the risk of violence. Ninety-three percent of responding firms had an Employee Assistance Program. Firms that did not have Employee Assistance Program. Firms that did not have Employee Assistance Programs had a:
   • Higher trend for fighting;
   • Higher trend for weapons at work;
   • Higher trend for destruction of company property;
   • Higher trend for murder threats; and
   • Higher trend for actual/attempted murders.

To provide further context for research findings, telephone interviews also were conducted with two providers of security services. An additional perspective was provided by a labor attorney with expertise in workplace violence issues.

When evaluating security service providers, it is important to determine their experience with workplace violence, what preventive programs and services they offer and how they screen and train employees. What are the security company’s hiring practices? Do they offer specialized training to help employers avoid, investigate and respond to violence problems?

After a violent incident has occurred, companies should perform a thorough investigation of what happened and why, and take appropriate corrective measures. Counseling and support should be provided to employees who may be traumatized.

Companies should take a proactive versus reactive approach. They should establish an emergency response and crisis management team in advance who can be called in quickly to provide counseling and address such issues as clean-up, operations and handling of the media.

Order a copy of this report from the IFMA Bookstore today.