Study finds 1 in 4 U.S. employees has witnessed workplace violence
“Many employers are unaware — or are surprised to learn — the realities of what their employees experience when it comes to workplace safety and mental health,” Mike Dahir, Traliant’s CEO, said.
One in four U.S. employees has witnessed workplace violence happening to a colleague in the past five years, and 12% have been the target of workplace violence themselves. That disturbing news is one of the eye-opening findings in “Fear Factors: A 2024 Employee Survey Report on Workplace Violence, Harassment, and Mental Health,” recently released by online compliance training company Traliant.
The report is based on responses from 1,080 employees working at firms with more than 100 employees.
With the rise of hybrid work and the heightened awareness of issues like sexual harassment, employees have a whole new set of factors they must deal with in today’s workplace. While there have been many positive elements for workers, such as more flexibility, the report’s authors note employers need to be aware of negative influences that have employees feeling anxious about their safety, such as the rise of violent incidents in the workplace.
“Many employers are unaware — or are surprised to learn — the realities of what their employees experience when it comes to workplace safety and mental health,” Mike Dahir, Traliant’s CEO, said in a statement. “This not only poses a risk to businesses from a reputational and legal standpoint but also prevents employees from bringing their best selves to work. Today’s most successful employers will both understand and meet employees’ needs for safe workplaces.”
Other key findings of the survey:
- Most (90%) of respondents believe other states should adopt policies similar to California’s new law that requires employers to adopt workplace violence prevention plans, maintain records of any threats or incidents of workplace violence, and provide effective training to workers on workplace violence.
- Fewer than half (44%) of workers strongly agree that their employers promote a speak-up culture, in which employees can report misconduct without fear of retaliation.
- One-third of respondents would report workplace violence or harassment only if they could do so anonymously.
- A majority (86%) of respondents strongly agree or somewhat agree that employers must do more to address the mental health of their workers.
What can employers do?
The “Fear Factors” report also examines key strategies for employers to address the realities of employee safety and wellbeing. They include the following:
- Foster a speak-up culture that encourages employees to safely voice concerns.
- Establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence that includes all employees, patients, clients, visitors, contractors, and anybody else who interacts with company personnel.
- Take a proactive and comprehensive approach to preventing and responding to workplace violence. Identify and evaluate workplace risks, track complaints of violent or intimidating employee behavior, and create a “workplace violence incident response team.”
Related: Is your office prepared for a violent attack? Safety steps every employer needs to take
- Conduct annual violence prevention training with all employees and managers to provide scenarios of real-life situations — such as active shooter drills.
- Offer mental wellness benefits and resources, which likely will help reduce conflicts, accidents, and lost workdays.