Workplace Violence Essay -- Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Violence Workplace violence is a phenomenon that is now widely recognized as a social problem, which impacts all organizations. "According to Department of Justice statistics for 1995, 21% of all violent crime occurred while the victim was either at work or traveling to or from work. Workplace Violence accounted for more than two (2) million violent Crimes annually from 1992-1997" (Kaufer 1-2). In this research paper I will provide an overview of workplace violence and furnish Examples of the effect and costs, as it affect the workplace. Workplace violence can be devastating to business and present emotional impact on the employees involved (Ecis, 1). "Incidents of workplace violence were virtually unheard of until the 1970‘s. Since then it has more than tripled. As companies downsize, reorganize, re-engineer, and demand more of each employee, stress levels increase to the breaking point causing work-related violence to escalate (Mattman, 1). Obviously something must be done to protect employees from workplace violence. Employees not only deserve a safe workplace environment but several state mandates need to be considered. Three important questions deserve close examination. These include, why over the past years have there been evidenced an increase in workplace violence? What are the effects on the business economics when they are subjected to occupational violence on the work site? And finally, what can be done to avoid violence in the workplace? Workplace violence has shown itself to be a serious detriment to the ability of a company to be successful and productive. As you can see, it not only affects the workplace but places employees in emotional states, which are counterpro... ...erly, Age Works. Free Press 1999. Kaufer, Steven. The cost of workplace violence to American business. Source: www.workviolence.com Klein, Stuart. Workers Under stress. University Press of Kentucky: 1990. Source: CSUDH Library Mantell, Michael. Ticking bombs. Irwin Professional Publishing 1993. Source: Public Library of Long Beach. Unknown Author. Steps to combat workplace violence. Source: http://www.sentry~insurance.com/Wontvid.htm Unknown Author. Violence has no place in the workplace. M2 Communication Ltd. 1992. Unknown Author. Workplace violence policy. Internet. Source: http://www.2kumc.edu/hr/admin/wpv.html Vuong, Andy. Business discuss safety at workplace. Source: William, Waugh, L. and Lloyd, Nigro G. Workplace Violence: A Human resources perspective. Internet. Source: http://www.gsu.edu~purlgn/WPVAbstract.html