FAIRLY AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGING A GLOBAL WORKFORCE

 

PREVENTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

 

 

figure 01  work place violence

Workplace violence is defined as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other similarly disruptive behavior that occurs on the job site. Threats and verbal abuse can lead to physical assaults and even killing. Employees, clients, consumers, and visitors may all be affected or involved.

Zero-tolerance against Workplace Violence (WPV) should be the motto of every workplace. No worker should be a victim of such abuse. As such, organizations should ensure the existence of a safe working environment, and governments should introduce tough legislation to halt WPV. Furthermore, extensive research is required on ways to prevent WPV. (Wailed As Karzai $Mohan  D ass Mohan 2019)

 Workplace violence may seriously harm employee’s performance and productivity. As demonstrated by Naomie's(2014) research ,workplace bullying affects work efficiency, job happiness, and commitment, resulting in higher employee turnover.

On the other hand violence prevention training has the potential to significantly reverse these trends. A research in the Journal of Business and Psychology (2022) found that implementing violence prevention training resulted in a 27% decrease in violent events and a 33% increase in productivity^(3^). These programs contribute to the creation of safer and healthier workplaces, allowing people to function to their full potential, which drives total organizational performance.

 

 

figure 02

Workplace violence prevention training plays an important role in creating safer, more respected workplaces by teaching information, changing attitudes, and developing skills. It's important for the following reasons:


01.Promotes Awareness: Many employees may not be aware of various types of workplace abuse. Training programs aim to educate people on the various types of violence and their possible consequences, allowing for early detection and prevention.

02.Equips staff with skills: This type of training gives them the tools they need to respond effectively and safely to violent occurrences. These abilities span from conflict resolution, negotiation, and de-escalation tactics.

03.Promotes a Culture of Respect: Workplace violence prevention training programs encourage open discussions about these concerns. It contributes to the creation of an environment that values and promotes respect, safety, and inclusivity.

 

 

figure 03  Violence preventing Training

Adolescent workers may not be aware that violence is a safety concern in the workplace. As part of a larger mixed-methods pilot study, investigators used a self-administered survey and individual interviews with 30 adolescent workers from a chain of food service stores in a Midwestern metropolitan area to explore experiences of workplace violence (WPV) and ways of learning WPV-specific information. Participants reported experiencing verbal and sexual harassment and robberies. Most participants reported awareness of WPV-specific policies and procedures at their workplace; the ways participants reported learning WPV-specific information varied. Findings support the need for occupational safety training to assist adolescent workers prevent and mitigate potential WPV.(Carolyn smith, Gordon Gillespie & Theresa A beery 2015)

confidence and knowledge about WPV prevention. Researchers demonstrated safety and health training are effective in promoting a safe work environment and reducing incidents of WPV. This review begins to fill the gap in the literature on interventions used by HHCWs to mitigate and prevent WPV. (small tamara F, et L 2022)

Tangible improvements in work performance Training for workplace violence prevention not only reduces incidences, but also improves performance.

• Improved staff Morale and Engagement: A safe working environment boosts staff morale and engagement. Employees that feel secure are more likely to be invested in their professions and perform better.

• Reduced Absenteeism and Turnover: Working in a violence-free atmosphere helps to reduce absenteeism and staff turnover. Workers are less likely to skip work due to fear, and they are more likely to stick with a company that takes responsibility for their safety.

• Improved Conflict Resolution: Training provides employees with the skills needed to handle problems peacefully. A conflict-resolution-capable workforce is more likely to maintain a harmonious work environment, hence increasing productivity.

• Improved Company Reputation: Successful violence prevention training can help a company's reputation. Organizations with a strong commitment to employee safety are more likely to attract top personnel and sustain good public relations

• Mitigating Legal Risks: An effective violence prevention training program protects organizations from potential litigation and legal issues. Companies that take proactive actions to prevent workplace violence demonstrate their commitment to employee safety, which can help safeguard them from legal claims connected to workplace violence.

• Increased Employee Confidence: Employee confidence is fundamentally dependent on a feeling of safety in the workplace. Employees' self-assurance can be increased via violence prevention training, which ensures that their firm has safeguards in place to protect them. This confidence can transfer into improved job quality and productivity.

 

CONCLUSION

In summary, workplace violence prevention training is essential for any organization's plan . It generates a safe and inclusive work atmosphere while greatly improving job performance. These training programs make an important step to reducing workplace violence events and establishing a culture of safety and inclusivity by educating, developing skills, and encouraging respectful conversation.

To summarize, the value of workplace violence prevention training  and beyond cannot be emphasized. It is a crucial instrument for protecting employees' safety and well-being as well as driving increased work performance and productivity. It is a wise and necessary investment that will produce huge returns in the form of a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce, ultimately leading toward greater organizational success.

References

Walied Askarzai & Mohan Dass Mohan 2019 

An Empirical Study of Workplace Violence: Ideas on How to Stop It

 Small, Tamara F., et al. "Workplace Violence Prevention Training, Safety Resources, and Commitment to HHCWs’ Safety." Workplace Health & Safety 70.7 (2022): 325-331.

Carolyn smith,Gordon L.Gillespie & Theresa A beery   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Smith+CR&cauthor_id=26089114

Haynes, Mark I. "Workplace violence: Why every state must adopt a comprehensive workplace violence prevention law." (2013).