Employer Survey: Most Employers Have A Workplace Violence Policy But Few Provide Training
With workplace violence an increasing concern, we recently polled our subscribers to find out how they are addressing the problem. We asked about workplace violence policies and steps they take to reduce threats to employee security. Employers who responded had staff sizes ranging from six to 1,300. (Note that survey results don’t always equal 100%.)
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Zero-Tolerance Policies
Eighty percent of employers who responded said they had a zero-tolerance policy on workplace violence. While 64% distributed a written policy to employees, only 26% posted the policy in the workplace. And 73% have adopted procedures for employees to report threatening behavior by co-workers.
Fitness-For-Duty Exams
Fifty-one percent of respondents require a fitness-for-duty exam or doctor’s release before employees may return to work after being off for physical conditions, but only 23% require an exam for employees who have been off work because of mental problems. Just nine percent said they require a psychiatric exam for employees whose mental state could pose a danger.
Few Offer Employee Training
Only 17% of respondents train employees to identify, intervene, counsel or otherwise manage threatening behavior by co-workers. Any training given is most commonly provided only for supervisors.