Linguistics
Workplace violence may be referred as any act or form or threat of any physical violence, intimidation, harassment, humiliation or any other threatening disruptive deed or behavior that take place at work site. It may range from threats, homicides and even verbal abuses as well as physical assaults. Such workplace violence may affect or involve clients, employees, visitors and customers. Homicide is reported as one of the leading causes of fatal workplace injuries in USA. Moreover, it is regarded as the cause of many women’s untimely deaths at workplace. Workplace violence is on the rise and thus making it a major concern as well as issue for both employees and employers globally (Lee, 2005).
Workplace violence usually affects a lot of people especially those in America as it is reportedly that approximately 2 million American employees suffer from this phenomenon each year. However, it is believed that many more cases are usually ignored and thus not reported to the authorities. The fact about workplace violence is that it can affect anyone as it can strike anytime, anywhere and no one is secluded or immune. Some factors play the role of a catalyst for as far as workplace violence is concerned. One the major factors causing workplace violence may include unstable people, working volatile people as well as exchanging cash or money with the public. Moreover, working alone, isolated places and working under the influence of alcohol may stir up violence at workplace. Additionally, many people who have family problems or challenges may cause violence at workplace. People who work at places with high levels of crime risks are also at danger of experiencing workplace violence. Workers who are most likely to be affected at workplace violence may include delivery drivers, public service workers, law enforcement employees, customer service workers, teachers, retail employees, public works workers and employees who exchange money with public as well as healthcare experts or professionals (Umiker, 2005).
Workplace violence can cause massive damages to the victims especially if not managed properly. For any organization to eliminate this phenomenon, an effective supervisor or manager must be put in charge of such situations in order for them to control risk factors causing workplace violence. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the manager or supervisor to come up with policies which can enable him or her to eliminate violence at workplaces. However, a person should understand that anybody can perpetrate violence including those supervisors and managers in charge of the violence and risk preparedness. Therefore, it is very vital for the supervisor to be aware of such signs portrayed by aggressive and violent people. Some of the signs may include threatening remarks, aggressive habit, uncooperative behavior, unwanted comments of sexual nature, harming a coworker deliberately, excessive application of profanity, easy irritability and excessive argumentativeness of an employee should serve as warning signs of future workplace hostility.
A supervisor or a manager usually carries out many responsibilities in violence elimination process. One of his or her responsibilities may include the ability to make sure that the organization has effective approaches, policies and strategies that eliminate or reduce workplace violence in the organization. This implies that a proactive approach is always desirable when addressing concerns with regards to workplace violence. Another responsibility may include ensuring that all new employees as well as the existing staff members are well informed and conversant with the company’s workplace violence policies. This should encompass educating them on the proper procedure to deal with such issues of problems.
The supervisor should instruct all the staff members on the proper procedures or responses on how to deal with actual threats as well as potential threats. This includes the procedure on where to report such incidences and to lay such claims. This will ensure organization follow the required protocol and decency while addressing such acts. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to make sure that all employees’ information is treated with confidentiality when handling such incidences within the organization. Therefore, the supervisor should keenly consider all information presented before him or her regarding violence at workplace. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to contact the appropriate authorities in presence of such acts. He or she may inform the police, ambulance services and fire authorities depending on the type of violence experienced. However, it is very vital and crucial for the supervisor to avoid antagonizing the offender since this may cause an escalation of violence. This implies that the offender should be removed from the premises immediately and be given enough time to cool off as well as relax his or her mind before discussing the issue (Umiker, 2005).
The supervisor should introduce preventive measures with will enable him or her identify and notice any act of violence within the organizational structures. This implies that the supervisor should initiate a preventive program within the organization in order for him to curb the violence. One of the most effective systems includes the Physical Protection System. This system may be defined as a security system that integrates people as well as procedures or equipment used in protecting the assets of facilities against sabotage theft and other malicious human acts. This system is usually used in transportation vehicles and different facilities. The main aim of the system is to eliminate or reduce natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes as well as abnormal incidences or environments which may include electrical faults or fires hence provide security. Unlike human adversaries, safety incidents must obey and follow the law since they do not reason. For instance, a fire will only burn if there is a presence of oxygen and fuel. This implies that if the two elements are cut off, the fire will stop from spreading all over as it cannot decide on where or when to start igniting. An appropriate Physical Protection System usually carries three vital functions which include detection, delay and response or interdiction. These three functions identify a Physical Protection System which is effective and appropriate for consideration within the organization structures. An effective Physical Protection System usually carries out unique features such as active infrared sensors, radiation sensors, capacitance proximity sensor, infrasonic sensors, vibration sensors, pressure sensors and also passive sonic sensors which are equipped for it to sense in advance any type of disaster that may befall the organization (Kerr, 2010).
In a nutshell, preventing workplace violence in advances usually saves the organization from suffering massive losses. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to identify policies, strategies and general measure that will avoid any workplace related violence. Therefore, the organization should equip such workers with extensive knowledge of the cause of workplace violence as well as the consequences. A supervisor in collaboration with organization should install effective Physical Protection System to prevent it from suffering from huge losses due to natural causes.
References
Kerr, K. M. (2010). Workplace violence: Planning for prevention and response. Burlington,
MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Lee, J. (2005). Addressing domestic violence in the workplace. Amherst, Mass: HRD Press.
Umiker, William O. (2005). Management Skills For New Health Care Supervisors. Jones &
Bartlett Pub.
