Occupational violence refers to any type of attack, physical or emotional, threat, intimidation, or property damage committed to an employee, clients, or acquaintances at the workplace (Friend & Kohn, 2018). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), the employer must provide a safe workplace to its workers.
Significant Causes of Violence in the Workplace
The management and employees in any organization should be able to recognize the signs and reasons that can lead to violence amongst their colleagues. It will help them to keep safe and avoid such incidences (Friend & Kohn, 2017). Major causes include:
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Poor relationship with co-workers. When colleagues or management are not in good terms with one another, it creates tension amongst them. It can stir up disagreements that make them attack one another.
Deterioration in job performance. An employee with a worsening job report is likely to be emotional and overreact at the slightest disagreement. It can end up in a big fight.
Financial challenges and denial of promotion. Having economic issues will direct an employee's anger at their workplace because it is their source of income. They will feel frustrated with their job because of not being able to solve their financial situation, therefore, being vulnerable to causing violence to anybody in the workplace.
What Firms Can Do to Defuse the Situation
Top management should be able to recognize the early signs of violence amongst their employees and come up with amicable solutions towards the same. Having regular team-building sessions will help reduce tension among their staff, and create a conducive working environment for everybody by creating unity amongst them (Moylan, 2017). Management should be able to review the salaries regularly; if there are workers who deserve a pay rise or promotion, they should not hesitate to offer them, it boosts their productivity. Punishment such as laying off or suspension should be induced and conducted depending on the type of harm caused.
Each worker is entitled to a safe working environment. It is the duty of the employer to ensure the rules and regulations towards it is maintained. Workers, on the other hand, should help the management by abiding by the standards set so that they can prevent any violence amongst themselves.
References
Friend, M. A., & Kohn, J. P. (2018). Fundamentals of occupational safety and health. Rowman & Littlefield.
Moylan, S. (2017). Occupational violence and staff safety in general practice. Australian family physician, 46(12), 952.
