No clearly defined rules of conduct. Maintaining an atmosphere of intolerance or indignity. No in-house employee support systems. Failure to educate managers, supervisors and employees about how to recognize threats or inclinations for violence and how to respond. Inadequate security of the workplace.
Obvious ones are employee disciplinary actions, layoffs and downsizing.
But there are many more, and precautions can be taken with each to minimize a violent outcome. There is an increasing incentive to act. Workplace violence litigation has increased in recent years, with multimillion-dollar awards becoming more frequent.