The following list will help identify potentially dangerous individuals and/or situations that could lead to workplace violence.
As an employee, you should look for instances of intimidation, harassment, bullying, belligerent comments, or other inappropriate, aggressive behavior in the workplace. Also pay close attention to individuals who have numerous conflicts with customers, co-workers, or supervisors; bring a weapon into the workplace; make threats about using a weapon or inappropriate references to weapons; show fascination with workplace violence; indicate approval of workplace violence to resolve a problem; identify with perpetrators of workplace homicides; talk of desperation to the point of contemplating suicide; make direct or veiled threats of harm; have substance abuse problems; or exhibit extreme changes in normal behavior.
One in four women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while one in seven men have experienced the same. There are many signs of domestic violence to watch for if you think someone you know is in an abusive relationship outside of work. Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence frequently transitions to the workplace because of the predictability of an employee’s work schedule. It is becoming more common for this type of violence to migrate from the home and into the workplace, creating additional risks for co-workers.
People who are being abused may seem afraid or anxious to please their partners. They check in often with their partners to report where they are and what they’re doing. You may hear them talk about their partners’ tempers, jealousy, or possessiveness. Other warning signs of physical violence include having frequent injuries, with accidents often cited. They frequently miss work, school, or social occasions without explanation and dress in clothing designed to hide bruises or scars. Warning signs of isolation include being restricted from seeing family and friends or rarely going out in public without their partners. There are also psychological warning signs of abuse, such as having very low self-esteem, even if they were once confident. They may exhibit major personality changes, such as an outgoing person becoming withdrawn. An individual who is depressed, anxious, or suicidal also could be experiencing abuse.
It is difficult to know for sure whether someone will act out violently. We do know, from studying occurrences of workplace violence after the fact, that one or more of these attitudes or behaviors can be evident prior to a person acting out violently. It is always better to err on the side of caution by communicating your concerns to a supervisor than to ignore signs or not take them seriously. If you ever have concerns about a situation, you should report them immediately through the procedures established by your employer.
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