We are reminded of the risk of workplace violence every time we hear of a tragic shooting on the news. As wellness professionals, we often have a broad contact with individuals who are struggling and with the structures of organizations that can have an influence on whether those individuals get help or act out their anger and frustration. In this session we will look at risk factors that can be identified to indicate that an individual needs additional assessment and help and at the organizational structures that can be implemented to reduce the risk of violence in your workplace. It is important that, as wellness professionals, we look at how to address this extreme form of unhealthy behavior.

1. Remedies for
Workplace Violence
John Weaver, Psy.D.
The Healthy Thinking Initiative

2. Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify individual risk factors that should be referred for
assessment and intervention.
2. Participants will learn about organizational factors that increase the risk that an
unstable worker will act out violently
3. Participants will learn key organizational changes that can be implemented to provide
a healthier and more stable workplace.

3. Individual
Risk Factors

4. According to the FBI’s Center for the Analysis of Violent
Crime, Profiling, and Behavioral Assessment Unit these are signs of potential
danger:
o Direct or verbal threats of harm;
o Intimidating, harassing, or other inappropriate aggressive behavior;
o Numerous conflicts with supervisors and employees;
o Bringing a weapon to the workplace, making inappropriate references to
guns, or fascination with weapons;
o Statements showing fascination with incidents of workplace violence,
approval of the use of violence to resolve a problem, or identification with
perpetrators of workplace homicides;
o Statements indicating desperation (over family, financial, and other
personal problems) to the point of contemplating suicide;
o Drug/alcohol abuse, and
o Extreme changes in behavior.

5. The Hostile Intent Story

6. You hurt me…

7. You did it intentionally…

8. You could have done something else!

11. Organizational Factors

12. Perceived Unfairness

13. Clear and Consistent Goals

14. Punitive Discipline

15. Balanced Incentives,
Emotional Control

16. Job Insecurity

17. Honest, frequent feedback

18. Additional Resources:
Violence on the Job (1996), edited by Gary
R. VandenBos and Elizabeth Q. Bulatao
American Psychological Association.
Violence in the Workplace (1995), Raymond
B. Flannery, Jr. Ph.D. Crossroad.
Dealing with Workplace Violence: A Guide for
Agency Planners (1998). U.S. Office of
Personnel Management.
Combating Workplace Violence: Guidelines
for Employers and Law Enforcement (2000).
International Association of Chiefs of Police.

19. John Weaver, Psy.D.
Psychologist
The Healthy Thinking Initiative
www.preventingdepression.com
jweaver@preventingdepression.com
(414)491-8719