Workplace Anger

Approximately two million violent crimes occur at work each year, and workplace violence costs employers more than $4 billion annually. Despite these numbers, many employers do not consider violence to be a realistic threat to their workplaces. Recent incidents, however, have focused national attention on this growing problem.

Employers may face significant legal liability for not taking adequate steps to prevent workplace violence. In some cases, an employer's liability for violence can extend beyond the workplace. Employers should consult with employment counsel to create a "zero-tolerance" workplace violence policy that prohibits violence, intimidation, threats, verbal abuse, harassment, profanity and other disruptive and potentially dangerous behavior.

While employers cannot guarantee that their working environments will be free of all violence, they should avail themselves of measures to avoid or discover such problems before incurring significant liability.

This article appeared in the June 2006 issue of Construction Business Owner.

Source: E. Jewelle Johnson link