TAP to offer 2012 seminar on dealing with workplace violence

Approximately two million American workers fall victim to workplace violence annually. Many of those victims work in high risk jobs because they exchange money with the public; deliver passengers, goods, or services; or work alone or in small groups, during late night or early morning hours, in high-crime areas, or have extensive contact with the public. But, twenty five percent of all workplace violence occurs between co-workers.

According to the National Safe Workplace Institute, six out of ten incidents of workplace violence occur in private companies which cost companies $4.2 billion in lost work and legal expenses annually with average cost of $250,000 per episode.

TAP will be offering a seminar in 2012 to Business Agents and Supervisors which will address the growing workplace violence problem and provide education to attendees regarding ways to diffuse potentially violent situations and how to go about addressing potential violence without escalating the possible problem.

Following instances of workplace violence, many times managers and co-workers often report signs that they saw prior to the incident but say they did not realize what might happen or that they did not know what to do.

Managers and employees, who work at companies where training has been done, report it being easier to speak to an employee or co-worker about an anger problem. Also, once training has been done, the likelihood that an employee/co-worker will receive anger management themselves increases almost ten-fold.

Typical workplace violence training provides specific information such as behavioral signs that may warrant a referral to anger management services. Such trainings also provide suggestions about how to approach potentially violent workers without escalating the situation.

According to a 1991 survey, workers who were interviewed following workplace victimizations strongly advised that all workers, supervisors and management need to acknowledge the problem of workplace violence, advocate for safe work environments, and train workers in precautionary measures and what to expect if they do become victims (Atkinson, 1991).

TAP will be sending notices to all Teamsters Joint Council 7 locals as soon as a date is set. We hope Business Agents will attend and that they will spread the word to the employers they represent.

Anyone with questions should feel free to call TAP at (510) 562-3600.