When it comes to not just workplace violence, but with anything in life, we can’t do much about what people believe in general about the world around them. We can, however, take personal responsibility for what we believe ourselves – especially when our beliefs center around our own personal safety, and the safety of those we’re responsible for. This article explores the most common myths about workplace violence and how these unfounded beliefs actually serve to perpetuate and aggravate the problem of violence in the workplace.
The following myths and mistaken beliefs regarding the topic show just how, not only misguided many business owners, C-Level executives, and HR managers are; but show a possible root cause as to why over 70% of U.S. businesses, and many more globally, operate without a solid workplace plan and training program. Given the reality that about a dozen workers, typically management level and higher, are killed each and every week, and another 38k+ are otherwise attacked on the job is proof enough that the following myths about what causes violence in the workplace, who is a potential target, and the size and scope of the problem… are wrong!
Myth #1: Workplace violence incidents are rare.
Unfortunately, we can find ourselves living in a bubble of complacency. And, unless we’re shaken out of our sleepwalking state by a terrifying news story, we tend to not notice less horrific things around us.
While it is true that the number of murders occurring from a workplace violence attack have lowered over the past few years, we shouldn’t be limiting our focus to just homicide. In fact, according to OSHA, there are over 1 million reported incidents of assault each year, just in the United States alone. And, since it’s estimated that only about half of all incidents are ever reported, that the total is closer to 2 million. And, this doesn’t include the approximately 1,000 homicides and 51,000 sexual assaults!
Myth #2: It will never happen here.
I call this the “Ostrich Syndrome.” You know, the belief that, “if I bury my head in the proverbial sand, I can make danger disappear.” The truth is that workplace violence can happen in any business, at anytime, and anywhere. And, it does. In fact, I’ve consulted with executives, business owners, and employees from, not only the US, but also Canada, Germany, England, France, Japan, and Thailand. And…the story is the same: Today’s workplaces are the most violent environments in which you can find yourself.
Myth #3: Postal employees have more to worry about than I do.
Unfortunately, due to a few incidents which occurred decades ago, the post office and it’s employees have garnered a much undeserved reputation for violence. Even the phrase, “going postal,” is still popular after nearly four decades of it’s creation. The reality is that only about 3% of all incidents occur within all government agencies – combined!
In fact, post office employees, as with any government workers, are probably some of the “least” likely to encounter violence in the workplace. While occupations like nursing and other healthcare, teaching, and psychiatric counselors have some of the highest incidents.
Myth #4: Workplace violence is a guy thing and women shouldn’t worry about it.
Murder is the number one cause of death for women killed on the job. And, as I said before, this is paled by the 13,000 rapes, 51,000 sexual assaults, and about 35% of the 600,000 simple assaults that occur in American workplaces every year. In other countries, like India, the Middle East, and the East, the percentages are even higher.
Men may perpetrate more of the attacks involving the use of guns, but women share the field almost equally when it comes to being the attacker and the victim. In addition, over 65% of all non-fatal workplace assaults occur in nursing homes, hospitals, residential care facilities, and other social service environments – places where women make up the vast majority of the work force.
Myth #5: Security guards and metal detectors will prevent workplace violence.
As a former police officer, I learned very quickly that security measures can do little to stop a determined perpetrator of a crime. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a burglar, a rapist, murderer, or even a terrorist – the newest threat to workplace safety.
In fact security guards and detection devices can do little more than cause an attacker to think more creatively. And, even if they do prevent the outsider from entering your company, they can do little to stop current or former employees, friends, family members and visitors that would have both knowledge of your facility, and a reason to be there in the first place.
Myth #6: The only cost we’ll have to worry about is attorney fees.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to my share of human resources managers, administrators, and executives about the need for a workplace violence prevention plan and crisis response training program in their facility. In that time, one of the most disturbing comments that I’ve ever heard was, “that’s what our attorney’s are for.”
Not only can your attorney’s, or the police for that matter, “not” take away the damage, injuries, death, and destruction that can occur, but their fees will be the least of your problems. The true cost of workplace violence incidents are estimated to be between 55 and 2 million US dollars every year. Costs associated with your company’s recovery in the post-event aftermath include not only attorney’s fees, but also lost work time, the effects of negative press and public image, property repairs, increased insurance premiums, and fines or judgments entered in favor of any plaintiffs suing you for liability. To give you an idea about just one of these areas, OSHA reports that American companies pay for over 1,700,000 sick days annually due to lost time resulting directly from violence in the workplace.
In many cases, the financial strain resulting from just one incident has put more than a few companies out of business for good.
Myth #7: He just “snapped.” We can’t prevent it because there are no warning signs.
Reports show that in 80% of all incidents of workplace violence, the assailant gave warning signs that went unheeded. In all of the programs that I teach, regardless of whether we’re talking about basic self-defense, street survival for law enforcement professionals, or workplace violence prevention and defensive tactics, “awareness” heads the list and is the easiest and most successful means for surviving a workplace violence attack.
The reality is that managers and employees alike can learn to anticipate, assess, and even manage the risk from internal causes by identifying, monitoring, and addressing employees who exhibit high-risk behaviors and characteristics before they can escalate into actual violence.
While not all situations can be prevented, and this is where a good, solid, self-defense and attack avoidance program comes in, early awareness and action can save property, lives, money, guilt and the embarrassment which can arise out of knowing that action “could” and “should” have been taken to prevent or minimize it.
Myth #8: We have insurance to cover the cost of damages.
Most workers and managers, as well as business owners wrongly believe that they are covered completely by whatever insurance coverage is in place to protect the company. When, in fact, supervisors, managers, and others in an authority or leadership position can be held personally responsible and sued in civil court for their actions or failure to act, and the conduct of others over which they had authority.
And, while most companies carry some sort of liability coverage, you may find that your insurance policy may have clauses that exclude damages from certain types of actions. Like hospitals, universities, and other open, “porous” entities, your company can be left holding the proverbial “bag” in the case of injuries, damages, or harm that comes to visitors, guests, and family members caught in the cross-fire of an event but who are not actually employees of your company.
Myth #9: We have a workplace violence prevention policy so we’re safe.
In light of all the evidence, most companies still do not have workplace violence plans, policies, or training programs. I have found that those who do, are still missing critical elements from these plans and leaving themselves open to the same or greater liability issues that their plans were supposed to eliminate in the first place.
REMEMBER…
Violence is a double-edge sword. On one hand, to you and I, it’s RANDOM. It can happen anywhere, at any time, and from anyone who is triggered based on 2 factors (which I’ll cover in an upcoming post). On the other hand, for the assailant(s), it’s PREDICTABLE. Many even use the phrase, “Just wait. One day I’ll…”
We must work to remove some of the “randomness” from our side of the equation, while also deterring a potential assailant from acting out… at least in our direction.
The truth is that, you and I may not be able to prevent someone from being angry, believing that violence is an acceptable solution, or even lashing out. However…
We CAN do everything in our power to deter, dissuade, and be able to handle them should they direct their attention at us, our people, or the company at-large!
Take The Next Step…
When was your company’s last security threat/risk assessment and policies review? 6 months ago? A year?
Longer?
Take the first step and find out what your company’s positioning is against threats to your people by scheduling an assessment with us – not just from a “break-in” perspective, but on one that protects you and your people from no less than FIVE attacker types, and provides you with a report (summarized as well for quick review) for actionable steps to close gaps and increase the safety of your company…
Before, During, and After an attack
…should one occur.