Workplace Aggression? Get Serious About Your Workplace Violence Prevention

For business owners who do not think workplace aggression and violence are a problem, especially in Canada, I have some news for you – It Is!
Back in 2016, Canada rated 4th place for workplace aggression.
Today, in a more toxic social environment and reflective of the impacts of Covid, SHRM, an internationally focused HR resource, reports that over 70% of Canadian workers have experienced workplace aggression (This linked resource is helpful and worth a look)

As a business owner, you may think it is not a problem, but I urge you to think again. Organizational neglect in this matter can lead to severe consequences for everyone involved.

How Do You Recognize the Effects of Workplace Aggression?

Workplace aggression and violence range from threats to harassment and include stalking behaviors. While you may not always witness the behaviors, you can be on the lookout for the side effects.

Here are some to consider: 

  • Excessive tardiness or absences from work

  • An abnormal need for supervision

  • A lack of work performance

  • An unexplained change in work habits

  • An inability to concentrate

  • Signs of stress (which we have covered in some recent blogs)

  • An unexplained change in attitude

  • A fascination with weapons

  • Signs of drug or alcohol use

  • Not taking responsibility for their actions (remember the Number 1 Rule)

(Source: Signs)

Recognize the Hazards

Many small business owners don’t understand or recognize aggression as a specific hazard they must address. Few workplace violence instances indeed involve handguns, but you never know.

Why Don’t Leaders Prepare?

  • Business owners believe it will never happen to them, so why bother
  • You wait until an employee brings it up to address it.
  • Entrepreneurs may believe policies are just a waste of paper.
  • Often, we hope things too onerous will go away with time.

In British Columbia, Part 4 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations contains the legal requirements that workplaces must meet under the inspectional jurisdiction of the Workers Compensation Board.
The OHS Regulations aim to promote occupational health and safety and protect workers and other persons present at workplaces from work-related risks to their health, safety, and well-being.
One of those identified risks is violence in the Workplace, and the legislation sets clear expectations for actions required by a business owner.

  • Conduct a risk assessment  The management must require a risk assessment for any workplace where a risk of injury to workers from violence arising out of their employment may be present. The risk assessment must consider the previous experience in that Workplace, occupational experience in similar workplaces, and the location and circumstances in which work will take place.
  • Develop procedures and policies  The employer must establish procedures, policies, and work environment arrangements to eliminate the risk to workers from violence, and if elimination of the risk to workers is not possible, establish procedures, policies, and work environment arrangements to minimize the risk to workers.
  • Train the employees  An employer must inform workers who may experience the risk of violence of the nature and extent of the risk.

The issue of Workplace Violence is a problem that Fiore Group Training works tirelessly to raise awareness concerning.
You can do your part by ensuring that your house is in order.