Leading in a Crisis: Confronting Violence in the Workplace

Workplace violence is the third-leading cause of death in the workplace in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 5,283 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in the United States in 2023, 740 fatalities were due to violent acts. Homicides (458) accounted for 61.9 percent of violent acts and 8.7 percent of all work-related fatalities. While it is not something anyone wants to think about or consider as a possibility in their place of work, it is a grim reality that organizational leaders must understand and prepare for.  Preparation takes several forms.  It includes crisis communications training and planning on how to lead when your organization is in the midst of or has just experienced a violent incident.  But of perhaps even greater importance is ensuring that your workforce receives training on what to do when confronted with a workplace violence incident be it an active shooter or some other violent threat or incident. Show notes: Kate Schweit Online Resources Bureau Consortium