How do we prepare for workplace violence?

Regardless of industry, and whether you have 1 or 1,000 employees, we all face the possibility that workplace violence could enter our doors.  We need to make sure we’re doing what we can to limit our risks and risks to our staff. 

So, how do we prepare for workplace violence?

While it may seem preferable to stick our head in the sand at times, wishing it won’t happen to us, that’s not what we should do.  We owe it to ourselves, our staff, and our clients to mitigate what we can.  Probably the first thing to talk with staff about is to be aware of their surroundings.  Make sure they understand that if they see someone or something that doesn’t belong or seems off, they should speak up.

If it’s someone they don’t know, if they feel it’s safe, they should ask the individual if they can help them, finding out what or who they’re looking for. Think about providing badges or some other type of identification for your staff to wear; This helps with identifying strangers, even if you have a very small office.  If the employee isn’t comfortable talking with the individual, or they see something that bothers them, they should understand the need and feel comfortable immediately going to inform any available manager.

Some local police departments provide safety training.  Check with them to see if they have that available and if there’s any charge (in some locations it’s offered free to businesses in the city).  There are online training courses available, too, and, for the most part, the emphasis is Run/Hide/Fight.  Let your staff know that you do NOT want them to put themselves in danger, removing themselves from any concerns whenever possible.

Of course, depending on your industry and services, you may have specific safety protocols you need staff to follow, especially if you have client/patient/public interactions that require protecting others. Make sure staff know those processes!

Encourage staff to come forward if they have personal issues that could bring violence into the workplace.  They need to feel safe voicing their concerns; that will help you both prepare.

No matter what you do where, have a plan for potential acts of violence and make sure your staff is aware of possible options.  Don’t just assume you’ll never have an issue.

#workplaceviolence #safety #management #hrconsultant #positivity

Safety should always be a priority.