Employers are duty - bound to set an acceptable standard for workplace behavior. Employees on the other hand are entitled to expect to have a safe working environment, in fact, that expectation of employees is a promise which has been added in to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Employees should be aware of all the laws concerning workplace violence. The duty of an employer is to provide reasonably safe workplace may arise from a variety of federal or state statues, regulations, or judicial decisions. Employers seeking to avoid liability for acts of workplace violence should become familiar with the law regarding violence.
Employer can never fully guarantee the safety of the workplace.
However, employers can take steps to reduce the hazard that contribute to this problem. That is to say the employer is liable for action of the employee when the employee is working, even if the employee acting against company policy. An employer may be liable for failing to take adequate safety and security measures after they have been notified of a potential danger. Workplace violence could be triggered many factors including downsizing, conflict with supervisors, domestic problems and other fundamental shifts in the market place. These include restructing, layoffs, pay freezes ,and changes in benefit packages as well as termination, disciplinary action, changing offices or job titles.