By GSU staff rep Brian Lark
We expect to feel safe at work, but workplaces can be a site of aggression, tension, harassment, and even violence.
Acts of violence can be present in a wide variety of situations. They can be physical or psychological, and they can come as a direct interaction with the aggressor or indirectly as a bystander or observer.
Over the month of April , we will look at these four distinct types of situations regarding violence in the workplace and the harmful effects that they have on workplaces and employees.
Type 1: Criminal Intent
Type 2: Customer/Client
Type 3: Worker on Worker
Type 4: Personal Relationship.
Week Three/Type 3: Worker-on-Worker Violence
This type of violence in the workplace is probably the most common and most difficult to deal with.
We know our co-workers, supervisors and management and we know their personalities so we can often read when someone is in a mood. No one should ever have to feel like they need to walk on eggshells at work for fear of falling victim to workplace violence. If worker-on-worker violence does occur, the same rules for engagement used for customer/client violence apply (see our
April 12 TMM)
.
Harassment and violence does not have to be directed at you in order for you to feel the effects.
Words or actions used in the workplace that make you feel uncomfortable should be reported, including when you are a witness to a situation. If you report it and it persists, report it again. You may have to report it to the next inline manager to see resolution, but never stop reporting.
Reporting worker-on-worker violence can be hard but it is necessary.
It really depends on the situation and the severity of violence as to who you need to report an incident to, but it needs to be reported. A failure to report any type of violence or harassment - direct or indirect - causes increases in anxiety and a loss of morale in the workplace. It has been proven that mental health problems cost the company more to take care of than a physical injury and increase of stress and anxiety could lead to staff taking a leave of absence which in turn causes more stress and anxiety for those left behind.
If you report a co-worker, they get reprimanded. That leaves you with a overhanging fear of retaliation and some variation of stress or anxiety when working beside them day after day.
If you are dealing with a supervisor, don’t engage the “fight.” Stay calm. While it is hard to show respect to someone who doesn’t appear to respect you, it is necessary to avoid escalation. Reporting the incident is necessary, but it can lead to fear and anxiety anticipating another attack.
What if your manager is the source of aggression? In most industries the direct manager is usually not the only manager. You can report incidents to human resources, their manager or to the manager of another department. As a GSU member you can also report incidents to your GSU staff representative. Some companies have anonymous tip lines to report issues in the workplace such as harassment, violence and failure to follow policies and procedures.
Depending on the type of violence, it may require reporting the situation to the authorities.
The commitment of business to the safety of its employees leads them to develop policies and procedures for dealing with harassment and violence.
You have a right to feel safe in the workplace, so no matter the type of violence, you need to report it.
Until next week stay safe and watch out for each other.
Next week: Personal Relationship Violence in the Workplace.
Don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep is you are struggling as a result of violence in the workplace. All calls and contact are strictly confidential. We will assist you in any way we can, but we will not contact your employer, file a grievance or act on your behalf without consultation, direction and approval from you.
