However, the dark reality is that workplace violence certainly can occur at your agency. Parents involved in a custody dispute over a child participant, engage in a heated argument in the preschool area, involving agency staff. During a basketball program, a patron disagrees with a foul called by an official and verbally abuses him. Co-worker sexually assaults a fellow employee while they are on an errand for their agency. Before you answer this question, let's explore some key elements of workplace violence.
Recent statistics reveal the following about workplace violence.
The discussions and debates regarding workplace violence have received national attention. Research is underway at local, state and federal levels to study the issue and how to deal with it. Current thoughts on the violence crisis include society drug abuse, increase in broken homes, organizational downsizing, stress and emotional instability. Therefore, agency staff should be trained in identifying warning signs and clues. For example, verbal clues and body language can be a sign of more serious violence to come.