As mentioned in previous Picore posts, workplace violence has become a serious problem across the globe, with the USA topping the list of first world nations with the highest number of workplace fatalities and aggressions. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported 600 workplace deaths in 2003, with homicide being the third-leading cause of these fatalities.
These numbers are evidence enough that assaults and other acts of aggression within the workplace must be avoided at all costs. The retail industry is one of the sectors most impacted by physical workplace violence, which isn’t surprising when considering that not only do disgruntled employees factor into the equation, but also unhappy customers and criminals.
NIOSH and the FBI have broken down retail store violence into four categories of assault:
Criminal Intent – violence committed when there is an intent to commit robbery or theft. Retail businesses tend to focus most of their attention on this type of assault as they tend to be the quite costly and are more common than the other forms of retail store assault. Most retail establishments decrease this threat by taking proper precautions, such as the use of drop safes to deter theft, never handling cash when alone in the store and never exiting the rear door at night with cash. A store design and layout that includes a security camera system, well lit interiors and exteriors and open spaces that allow greater visibility from inside and outside of the store can also help deter thieves.
Customer Violence – customers that are unhappy with a product/service or its cost can quickly become aggressive if not promptly diffused. Clients that have been drinking or doing drugs can be particularly dangerous, as they may be unwilling to listen to reason or leave the premises. In these cases, it is best to placate the individual until local police can take over.
Co-worker Violence – it is in every worker’s best interest to report any aggressive behavior amongst co-workers and especially any threats of physical violence. Management must take charge before the problems escalate and lead to physical aggression, and if taking charge means taking disciplinary measures or terminating an employee, so be it.
Domestic Violence in the Workplace – sometimes it is impossible to keep domestic problems from spilling over into the workplace. Domestic violence and stalking can both lead to a potential assaults at work. Management should watch for absenteeism and signs of stress and physical violence and encourage any suspected victims of domestic violence to contact a crisis response team or employment assistance program to seek help.
-Justine Bayod Espoz