|
An
overwhelming majority of senior executives responsible for
human resources and security report the number of workplace
violence incidents has increased at their companies in the
last two years. This information was obtained from a survey
sponsored by Risk Control Strategies, a threat management
firm specializing in workplace violence prevention, training
and response, and conducted by the market research firm
Prince & Associates. A total of 602 senior executives from
firms whose annual sales ranged from $20 million to $480
million responded to the survey.
Survey of 602
senior executives responsible for the “security” and/or “HR”
function.
Annual sales of the firms ranged from $20 million to $480
million.
Number of
employees
300 to 500 381 63.3%
500 to 900 221 36.7%
Reported that the
number of WV incidents increased over the last 2 years
300 to 500 79.8%
500 to 900 85.1%
Total 81.7%
Incidents
reported by the firms in the last 12 months
|
Incidents |
300 to 500 |
500 to 900 |
Total |
|
Verbal
threats made by employees to other employees |
52.0% |
62.4% |
55.8% |
|
Verbal
threats made by employees to senior management
|
54.1% |
65.2% |
58.1% |
|
Assaults
of other employees |
5.5% |
13.6% |
8.5% |
|
Assaults
of senior management |
0.8% |
2.7% |
1.5% |
|
Homicides
of other employees |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Homicides
of senior management |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Sexual
harassment of other employees |
12.1% |
18.6% |
14.5% |
|
Sexual
harassment of senior management |
2.4% |
3.6% |
2.8% |
|
Electronic assault/death threats to senior
management |
17.1% |
36.2% |
24.1% |
|
Electronic assault/death threats to other employees |
9.4% |
18.6% |
12.8% |
|
Product
tampering |
7.1% |
14.9% |
10.0% |
|
Intentional or malicious downloading of viruses |
13.1% |
23.1% |
16.8% |
Believe many WV
incidents go unreported
300 to 500 66.7%
500 to 900 75.1%
Total 69.8%
Believe WV a
bigger problem today than 2 years ago
300 to 500 75.6%
500 to 900 86.9%
Total 79.7%
Increased annual
spending to deal with WV
300 to 500 11.8%
500 to 900 21.7%
Total 15.4%
Preventive
actions you have implemented at your firm to avoid or
mitigate the effects of WV
|
Actions |
300 to 500 |
500 to 900 |
Total |
|
Developed
a workplace violence avoidance policy |
24.7% |
35.3% |
28.6% |
|
Conducted
a corporate vulnerability assessment |
2.9% |
9.5% |
5.3% |
|
Developed
a crisis management plan |
12.9% |
26.2% |
17.8% |
|
Conducted
crisis management training exercises |
4.2% |
8.6% |
5.8% |
|
Formed a
corporate threat management team |
0.5% |
5.0% |
2.2% |
|
Trained
management on how to identify and respond to
workplace violence situations |
2.4% |
7.2% |
4.2% |
|
Trained
employees how to identify and report potential
co-workers who have an increased likelihood of
violent behavior |
0.3% |
5.9% |
2.3% |
|
Trained
Security Officers on the warning signs of a
workplace violence offender |
4.2% |
17.2% |
9.0% |
|
Developed
relationships with local law enforcement
|
52.2% |
74.2% |
60.3% |
|
Trained
HR managers on how to manage at-risk terminations |
6.0% |
20.8% |
11.5% |
|
Have a
formal policy prohibiting the bringing of guns to
the workplace |
9.7% |
39.8% |
20.8% |
|
Prepared
an action plan to deal with civil litigation, brand
damage and business interruption costs due to WV |
0.8% |
7.7% |
3.3% |
Importance
of the following factors in contributing to WV incidents at
your firm
|
Factor |
300 to 500 |
500 to 900 |
Total |
|
Outsourcing or the “threat” of outsourcing of jobs |
28.6% |
66.1% |
42.4% |
|
A
corporate scandal at your company |
0.8% |
5.9% |
2.7% |
|
Downsizing/job loss |
43.8% |
83.3% |
58.3% |
|
Domestic
violence carried over to the firm |
0.5% |
0.9% |
0.7% |
|
Senior
management getting extraordinarily large raises or
bonuses |
3.7% |
3.6% |
3.7% |
|
Not
providing what the employees perceive as sufficient
annual raises or bonuses to employees |
54.9% |
58.4% |
56.1% |
|
The
potential sale or merger of your company |
0.3% |
10.9% |
4.2% |
|
Salary
reductions/wage garnishment |
62.2% |
67.4% |
64.1% |
|
Not
properly screening new employees |
9.4% |
10.9% |
10.0% |
|
Not
responding to the warning signs of potential violent
behavior from employees |
75.3% |
79.2% |
76.7% |
|
The
overall economy is getting worse |
36.0% |
47.1% |
40.0% |
|
