A Renewed Concern Over Workplace Violence

Posted: Friday February 29, 2008 under Lead Myself

The recent Northern Illinois University shooting that occurred on Valentine’s Day reminds us again that violent situations can happen anywhere. Six people died, including the perpetrator, and 18 people were injured in the tragic event that left people searching for answers. Here are some facts about workplace violence in the U.S.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an average of 20 workers are murdered each week in the U.S., and an estimated 1 million workers (18,000 per week) are victims of workplace assault each year. Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace and the second overall cause of death for all American workers.

Crime: Most incidents of workplace violence (85%) are due to criminal intent in which the perpetrator has no legitimate relationship to the business or its employees. Workers in high-risk jobs like late night convenience stores and cab drivers are far more likely to be assaulted during a crime, such as robbery, than someone working in a typical office setting.

Customers: Customers can also become violent. Jobs at most risk include those in which the people being “served” often become angry or frustrated, such as police officers, prison staff, health care workers, teachers, flight attendants and the like.

Personal Relationships: Workplace violence can also come from personal relationships in which an employee—nearly always a woman—is assaulted or harassed by a spouse, boyfriend, or stalker. The NIOSH reports that 75% of injuries caused by workplace assaults occur to women, and 25% of female homicide victims at work are assaulted by people they know.

Worker-on-Worker: In addition to workplace violence caused by crime, customers, and personal relationships, a relatively small percentage of incidents come from current or former employees. According to a 2004 USA Today article, titled Managers Not Prepared for Workplace Violence, “In an average week in U.S. workplaces, one employee is killed and at least 25 are seriously injured in violent assaults by current or former co-workers…”

The article suggests that businesses and business managers can be better prepared for aggression, threats of violence, and actual violence at work. “In nearly eight of 10 cases, killers left behind clear warning signs—sometimes showing guns to co-workers, threatening their bosses or talking about attacking. But in the majority of cases, employers ignored, downplayed or misjudged the threat…”