Workplace Violence
Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA
Workplace Violence

Any act of physical violence, harassment,
intimidation or other threatening behavior
that takes place in the workplace.
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Going “Postal”
Mass murder in the
workplace by an unstable
employee.
Some Statistics:
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564 people are murdered at work each
year. Second leading cause of
occupational death. (2010)
30 multiple-fatality workplace homicides
in 2008, resulting in 67 homicides and 7
suicides.
Shootings account for 80% of all
homicides in the workplace.
Robbers were the assailants in 40% of
the cases.
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More Statistics
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12% of workplace shootings
were committed by coworkers /
former coworkers.
Women were most often the
victims.
Why women?
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Victim Profiling
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If there is an attack at a place
of business, it will begin with
the “front person” Receptionist.
Personnel / Human Resources:
 Poor Review, Reprimanded,
 Being Terminated, Laid Off.
Domestic Violence spilling over
to the workplace.
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Victim Profiling
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Robberies and related crimes:
 Convenience Store Clerks
 Fast-Food Restaurant
Workers
Work at night.
Work alone.
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Categories of Workplace
Violence

Type I – No legitimate
relationship with targeted
workplace.

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Robber
Type II – Recipient of some
service provided by the targeted
workplace.

Health care, social services,
counseling, education.

Victims will be nurses, social workers,
teachers, therapists.
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Categories of Workplace
Violence

Type III – Offender is an
Employee or Former Employee.

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Disgruntled:
Fired, Laid-Off, demoted,
embarrassed, lost benefits.
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Categories of Workplace
Violence

Type IV – Offender has
personal or intimate
relationships with an employee.

Domestic Violence spilling over to
the workplace.
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Type III Workplace Violence can
be predicted.
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Threats to kill or do harm to
oneself or others.
Pattern of escalating threats.
Builds over time.
Warning Signs:
See Handout
Many Threats turn out to be
harmless. Error on the side of
caution!
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Type III Workplace Violence
Characteristics
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Alcohol Use
Past history of aggression in the
workplace.
Lack of self-esteem.
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Perception of Interpersonal
justice.
Lack of respect, courtesy, dignity.
Use of psychological aggression
in the workplace. (“Bullying”)

Hostile Teasing, Harassment,
Humiliation.
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Note
Warning
 When a person experiences or perceives
something that generates anger, that
person may take it out on others, at work
or at home.
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Threat Assessments in the
Workplace
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Nature and context of the
threat.
Identified Target?
Apparent motivation of the
person who makes the threat?
Ability of the person to carry out
the threat?
Person’s background – past
violent behavior?
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Violence Risk Assessments
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Profiling is prediction.
Statistical Probability
Can never be certain.
THE BEST PREDICTOR OF FUTURE BEHAVIOR
IS PAST BEHAVIOR IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
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Quiz

1) Workplace violence is most likely to
occur in jobs that involve contact with
criminals, or cash or working alone at
night.
True
False
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Quiz,

(continued)
2) Being laid off or fired, or fearing that
outcome, may push an unstable person to
violence.
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True
False
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Quiz,

(continued)
3) You might be alert for workplace
violence from an employee who:
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a) Is loud and talkative
b) Complains often about unfair or
disrespectful treatment.
c) Is dating a co-worker.
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Quiz,

(continued)
4) An employee who threatens violence
can be safely ignored, since s/he is
unlikely to follow through.

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True
False
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Quiz,

(continued)
5) The combination of personal and work
problems can push an emotionally fragile
person over the edge, sometimes with
violent results.

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True
False
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End
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