Acts such as discipline, layoffs, terminations, poor promotions, and many more can fuel the fire of violence. Employees at all levels must recognize and respond to the warning signs that an individual may be exhibiting whether they are a stranger, client, or co-worker. Awareness of physical security issues are also important in achieving workplace safety. Dr. Graves writes that companies must be aware of people who behave belligerently, use harassing and abusive language, make verbal threats to do others physical harm, abuse drugs or alcohol, have obsessive romantic attractions to others, make angry verbal threats of suicide, talk about their weapons in a threatening manner, or who reveal a weapon. Also, an employee that exhibits sudden and drastic negative traits such as a sudden withdrawal from friends, decrease in productivity, attendance problems, poor personal hygiene, overreaction to stimulus, or who has extreme feelings of desperation is showing that they need attention before the situation turns volatile.
Domestic violence is another potential problem that can spill over into the workplace.
The victim may be an employee that is being harassed or stalked by the spouse or another person that brings the violent activity to the victim's workplace. The violent spouse may be the employee who brings their rage and anger into their workplace. In crimes of violence perpetuated by a stranger, there is usually a profit motive. But, in the workplace as well as in domestic violence, the offender will not have a profit motive. Personal crimes, sabotage, and vandalism are classic crimes of revenge that appease only the perpetrator.