Remedies for Workplace Violence

John Weaver, Psy.D.The Healthy Thinking Initiative

Learning Objectives:1. Participants will be able to identify individual risk factors that should be referred for assessment and intervention.2. Participants will learn about organizational factors that increase the risk that an unstable worker will act out violently3. Participants will learn key organizational changes that can be implemented to provide a healthier and more stable workplace.

IndividualRisk Factors

According to the FBI’s Center for the Analysis of ViolentCrime, Profiling, and Behavioral Assessment Unit these are signs of potentialdanger:

o Direct or verbal threats of harm;

o Intimidating, harassing, or other inappropriate aggressive behavior;

o Numerous conflicts with supervisors and employees;

o Bringing a weapon to the workplace, making inappropriate references toguns, or fascination with weapons;

o Statements showing fascination with incidents of workplace violence,approval of the use of violence to resolve a problem, or identification withperpetrators of workplace homicides;

o Statements indicating desperation (over family, financial, and otherpersonal problems) to the point of contemplating suicide;

o Drug/alcohol abuse, and

o Extreme changes in behavior.

The Hostile Intent Story

You hurt me…

You did it intentionally…

You could have done something else!

Organizational Factors

Perceived Unfairness

Clear and Consistent Goals

Punitive Discipline

Balanced Incentives,Emotional Control

Job Insecurity

Honest, frequent feedback

Additional Resources:

Violence on the Job (1996), edited by Gary R. VandenBos and Elizabeth Q. Bulatao American Psychological Association.

Violence in the Workplace (1995), Raymond B. Flannery, Jr. Ph.D. Crossroad.

Dealing with Workplace Violence: A Guide for Agency Planners (1998). U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Combating Workplace Violence: Guidelines for Employers and Law Enforcement (2000). International Association of Chiefs of Police.

John Weaver, Psy.D.Psychologist

The Healthy Thinking Initiativewww.preventingdepression.comjweaver@preventingdepression.com(414)491-8719