Have you ever been having an amazing day? Then as soon as you turn on the television and get stuck on the news there is some depressing report that just deflates your “good day” bubble? One of the many trends of violence that continues to be broadcasted is violence amongst co workers in the workplace.
In the same way that schools offer open counseling to their students, employers should also consider this option. We are all aware that there are people in our society that may not be as stable as they should. Unfortunately, it is sometimes hard to point out those who are liable to snap from those who aren’t. Even so, everyone would still want security even in the workplace. Over the course of the year there have been several incidents plastered over the news from all over the country concerning violence in the workplace.
In March, an Ohio State University Janitor opened fire on two coworkers killing one and injuring the other and then turned the gun on himself following a bad evaluation report. In April a woman in Tarpon Springs, FL, shot and killed her co worker while he sat in his car after he filed reports against her for working off the clock and threatening him. Although the family of the victim denies this, the suspect’s family claims she was taunted and teased by the victim about her perfectionist work habits. In early August an employee at a Connecticut beer distribution company fatally shot 8 of his co workers before taking his own life after leaving a disciplinary meeting in which his supervisors provided video surveillance of him stealing kegs of beer. In late August a Dallas woman fatally shot her male co worker in the chest who she said was her “closest friend” claiming it was a “sign from god” that told her to do it.
“According to U.S. Labor Statistics the number of workplace homicides decreased by little more than half from 1994, when they were 1,080 to 2008 when they were 517.” (Farlow). Conflict is in human nature but conflict resolution can be learned. Even though the numbers in this area of violence has decreased you can never be too safe. More need to be done to help those who need it and save future victims.
By: Sue.Me.
Commentary by Kendra Mells
When Will We Draw the Line?
Last Thursday, little Mary ate so many Twix bars that her stomach hurt. As a result, she felt ill the next morning and stayed home from school. Now although Mary realized the consequences of her actions as she was filling up on Twix bars, her school thought "hmmm....Mary is not to blame- instead we should sue Twix for her absence"...
Sound fallacious? It should- but virtually the same thing is happening in corporate offices all over America. "Workplace Violence" [as it has been deemed] is "violence or the threat of violence against workers both inside and outside of the workplace (OSHA*)", and while acts of violence are clearly the actions of individuals, businesses are now being held responsible for the actions of employees.
Many argue that employers should offer counseling to their employees to reduce the risk of Workplace Violence, but it seems, rather, that society has just become too comfortable with allowing others to take responsibility for individual actions. At what point will the blame be placed on the acting individual rather than an outside source? It is true that many jobs evoke stress in employees, but in truth, life is stressful in itself.
People are all different and react differently to varying situations, but at some point, someone has to stand up and say "It is my fault and I am taking responsibility". Until that happens, regardless of counseling or any other alternatives to dealing with stress, society will continue to have problems with people committing acts of violence because there is no one to answer to and no responsibility to be taken.
Mary may have eaten herself into illness, but she is less likely to do it again if her school holds her accountable for her actions, rather than twix.
*http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf
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