In a previously published article, Workplace Violence, we looked at the definition of workplace violence and its prevalence in the workplace.

Another read, Signs You May Be Violent At Work emphasized the need to take proactive measures towards stopping workplace violence by understanding the signs that may indicate a person may soon perpetrate workplace violence, and taking actions to stop it.

Hence, the questions. How can we prevent workplace violence? Can we even prevent this? Who can?

This article gives light to the ways workplace violence can be prevented.

1. Stakeholders Education

Fundamentally, workplace stakeholders (employers, employees, and customers) must be educated on workplace violence. Awareness and knowledge of workplace violence is a fundamental building block for the prevention of workplace violence. Employers should develop or recommend a short course for staff to build their knowledge of workplace violence.

Short courses or training on mental health, communication, constructive criticism, and bullying, fits well for raising the knowledge of staff on workplace violence. Employers may need to specially design tailored training for their staff based on the uniqueness of their business.

Employers and customers are not to be left out. Managers may have to undergo training to build their capacity in preventing and mitigating workplace violence. Business brands can design ads and/or processes that help build awareness of their customers on workplace violence.

2. Develop and Project a Workplace Violence Policy Manual

Developing and projecting a workplace violence policy manual helps to create a mental picture of how an organisation views workplace violence. It also enables both employers and employee to have a readily available document to reference when there is a need to. By creating a clear understanding of what workplace violence is, organisations tolerance or no tolerance, and actions that will be taken for victims and perpetrators, workplace violence can be prevented to a large extent.

3. Provide Security.

Depending on the operations of an organisation, past workplace violence experience, and potential workplace violence probabilities, organisations can acquire security solutions as a preventive measure for workplace violence.

For example, a surveillance camera may prevent customers or employees who have shown potential signs of workplace violence from carryout any such act, knowing that there is a second eye on them.

4. Happy hours and fun time

As discussed in the article Signs You May Be Violent At Work employees who have suddenly withdrawn from others may be showing early signs of being violent at work.

Employers can organize fun-time and happy hours to help such staff get-away and associate with others. Employers and/or managers can use such events to catch up with employees who are displaying such signs.

Such events can be strategically used to create a friendly environment that will in the long run advert workplace violence.