WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Workplace Violence

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Examples3

Legal Results4

Physical or Mental Harm5

Types of violence in the workplace6

A.Violence I7

B.Violence II7

C.Violence III7

Causes9

A.Features of the social9

B.Job characteristics9

C.Characteristics of the aggressor10

Consequences of Workplace Violence10

Recommendations11

Clear Policies11

Safe Hiring11

Safe Discipline11

References13

Workplace Violence

Introduction

Violence in the workplace has become one of the rising hazards for workplace staff. Workplace violence may include threats, hostage-taking, homicide, harassment, arson, and intimidation. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) revealed that approximately one million workers are the victims of workplace violence (Jenkins, 2008). Violence at the workplace is a disturbing issue for people who are victimized, and as a result of this most of these victims are subjected to psychological disability. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most frequent condition, which is related to behavioral disorder and emotional disturbance. As a consequence, symptoms of anxiety, physiological arousal, avoidance, intrusion and isolation may occur. Other forms of psychological consequences may include Self-doubt, clashes in relationships, panic, bad temper or irritability, de-motivation, sleeplessness, self-blame, and depression.

Examples

On October 15, 2002 in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, a server public 55 years killed his boss and a coworker with a firearm and then committed suicide. On October 17, 2001, the division of Corporate Services Banamex Medical received a request to investigate the condition of an employee 44 years of age, who showed abnormalities significant in their behavior and performance (Miller, 2003). The diagnosis of the psychiatrist and of the corporate internal medicine reveals that this behavior is a product of assault on the bank branch where she was serving years ago.

These incidents and many others show that violence at work (or the mere threat of violence) has become a serious workplace issue. The above cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Violence at work has many facets in addition to physical attacks, and homicides. In North America, workers, managers and employers face on a daily basis and without discrimination all forms of violence at work. As a result, the search for solutions to this problem is increasingly recognized more as an integral part of organizational development of a healthy company.

However, for this study we will analyze a tragic incident that occurred on 1st July, 2003 in Jefferson City, Missouri, USA. A worker of 25 years killed three coworkers and wounded five more before shoot himself.

Legal Results

Local police continue to speculate that Russell's action was related to disciplinary action he was facing at work. Company officials confirmed that the third-shift radiator technician, who began working at Modine in January 2001, was on employment probation for “attendance issues,” i.e., for missing work too often. Police Capt. Jim Johnsen suggested that Russell might have been about to be laid off, although company officials downplayed the possibility.

A coworker of Russell's told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that workers on the 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift could quit work as early as 5 a.m., but would have demerits assessed against them. “A worker would be put on probation at nine points and risk firing after that,” according to the newspaper. “Russell 'was really close to being gone,' the ...