Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Recovery in the Aftermath ofWorkplace Violence:
Guidance for Workers

Returning to work routines
Immediately after the event, makefollowing any violent incident at thesure that:
Returning to work routines following any
workplace can be very challenging.
■ All employees or others at theviolent incident at the workplace can beEven after the work area is secured,
workplace are accounted for.
and victims or perpetrators arevery challenging.
■ Medical attention has been
no longer present, emotional
received or ordered for all whoreactions and distress may reduceneed it.
concentration, motivation, and performance. However,there are steps you can take to reduce the negative impact of ■ You have a way to contact family and friends.
■ Others who are distressed have someone to look out foryour traumatic experience.
them.
The ﬁrst requirement for individual and ofﬁce recovery
after violence is assuring safety. You should know that
As soon as possible after the event, help clarify whatvictims, intended victims, colleagues, and bystanders
actually occurred and provide accurate information. Help
may experience signiﬁcant emotional distress whether
supervisors discuss:or not they were physically injured. People closest to theevent or those with close relationships to the victim(s)■ What is known about the event?
or perpetrator(s) will likely be most affected. For the■ Who was the victim?
majority of people, the cornerstone of emotional recovery■ Who was the perpetrator?
is communicating with others. You can help yourself■ How did the incident happen?
and your colleagues by talking with them. When you
demonstrate your willingness to discuss the event and your■ Why did the incident happen?
own emotions, you help others do so. Some people will notwant to participate in group discussions. If you are very
Before you leave work on the day of the incident, makeuncomfortable in group settings, it is important to speak
sure your questions have been answered about what is
one-to-one to a supervisor. After workplace violence many
known and further instructions. Try to provide as muchsupervisors have an “open door policy” to allow this toinformation as you can to your supervisors about what
happen.
occurred. When you go home:
Since a sense of “normalcy” and a return to normal■ Limit your use of alcohol, tobacco, and “junk food” towork schedules and routines helps most people adjust
usual levels.
after violence, your supervisors will encourage this. A■ Drink water.
sense of normalcy occurs gradually. The more traumatic■ Limit unnecessary driving.
and dramatic the event, the more likely that people
will be emotionally affected, and these memories and■ Talk to your family and friends about what happened.
reactions will only gradually fade. Most people move on■ Sleep and rest.
to integrate a tragedy or otherwise signiﬁcant event into
■ Exercise can also help reduce distress.
their consciousness without continuing mental distress ordisability.
Days following the event: If you are close to someone who
The actions below will help you develop a sense of safety
has been killed or injured in the event, a hospital visit withand speed return to normalcy.
Continued

family members may be helpful to you and the family. Ifa friend or loved one was killed or injured, or if you weredirectly exposed to the violence, you may experience strong
emotions, difﬁculty concentrating, or hopeless thoughts
It is important to talk with a counselor or seek medical
attention if these symptoms persist. If your workplace isclosed due to damage or an ongoing investigation, youremployer should provide instructions about alternative
meeting places to discuss events and to keep work ﬂowing.
Returning to work is important to recovery and workroutines contribute to the sense of normalcy.
When your work group meets again, your supervisor
will probably review what was known at the time, review
security and safety procedures, and update you on newdevelopments. Listen to others who were present during
the incident to get a full perspective. Feel free to provide
input and answer questions but do not be afraid to say“I don’t know.” If there are legal (privacy) issues, you
should be informed about limits on what you can talkabout. Meetings should be short. If more discussion seems

necessary, additional meeting times will be scheduled
Talk to your supervisor about attendance at funerals
or memorial services. These may be difﬁcult—but also
helpful.
Advice for workers who must continue to function
following an incident:■ Try to pace yourself and pace your decisions. Consider
courses of action (i.e., avoid snap decisions that may
have to be changed).
■ Take breaks when possible and relax. Exercise helps.
■ Identify a trusted co-worker to bounce ideas off andserve as a buddy (i.e., someone to look after you).
■ If you must continue to work immediately after
workplace violence, limiting alcohol and tobacco use,
excessive “junk” food, and unnecessary driving areparticularly important.
■ Do not overwork. Trust others to help get the job done.

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org