Workplace Violence Workplace violence can be defined as any action that can threaten the
safety of an employee, impact the employee's psychological or physical
well being, or cause damage to a company's property. Workplace
violence is not often talked about, but it does kill people. In the
last decade it has become one of the leading causes of deaths in the
workplace.
The University of Iowa Prevention Center has broken down workplace
violence into four categories. The first being (Type I) Criminal
Intent, this is when a criminal displays violent behavior toward an
employee. He/she has no association with the business or the
employees. The person is usually committing a crime in combination
with the violence. This type accounts for 85% of workplace violence.
An example of this would be when two men entered a Wendy's in
Flushing, New York with the intent to steal from the establishment.
Seven employees were shot, five of them died. I am currently employed
by the North Syracuse School district as an aide for summer school. I
personally do not think Type I Criminal Intent will affect me in my
working environment for a number a reasons. First, I do not work with
or have direct access to money. Money is many type I offender's
motive. Next, I do not work alone at any point in the day. I work in a
well lit room with three other adults. I also work in the morning, and
it is a known fact that a majority of crimes occur in evening hours.
Lastly, the suburbs of North Syracuse would not be considered a high
crime area. On the contrary I have heard stories that a...
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...when the perpetrator usually does not have a relationship
with the business but has a personal relationship with the intended
victim. This type of violence targets women more than men. I do not
think this type of violence will affect me personally in my workplace,
but it could very easily affect my co workers. I do know that if
someone wanted to target me for this type of violence they could very
easily without difficulty because there is no security staff in the
summer which would make me very accessible. This type of violence
could without a doubt be accomplished in my work setting if a co-
worker has an acquaintance with a violent past.
Addressing this problem is complicated, because workplace violence has
many sources. These categories can be very helpful in the design of
strategies to prevent workplace violence.
Lateral Violence in Nursing Lateral violence is an act of aggression that occurs among nurses (Becher & Visovsky, 2012), many nurses are exposed to incidents of lateral violence two or more times weekly (Ceravolo, Schwartz, Foltz-Ramos, & Castner, 2012) (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 2014). Lateral violence which is also called bullying, incivility, disruptive behaviors and horizontal violence may be covert or overt acts of verbal or nonverbal aggressions (American Nurses Association, 2011). Lateral violence may be verbal, physical or psychological in nature (Blair, 2013). Victims of lateral violence may have profound psychological effects including fatigue, insomnia, stress, depression, shame, guilt, isolations, substance abuse,
Horizontal violence is not a topic that medical faculties discuss on a day-to-day basis, but it is an enormous problem within the health care system. In this research the author looks at bulling from a registered nurse (r.n.) aspect .The effects on patient centered care can be detrimental for patients and r.n.’s. The work place needs to be a safe place for not only the patients but also the employees. With the rise of new graduate nurses who are employed by the medical facilities, they too are starting to face horizontal violence within the first year on the job, which leads to retention of nurses in the medical field. Horizontal violence will continue to arise if nurses do not stand up to bullying and empower victims to speak up on horizontal violence.
Workplace violence in the nursing profession has been extensively reported and documented. It is associated with serious negative consequences both for the nurse and their patients. Such disruptive behaviors in the nursing profession severely impact the emotional and mental well-being of the nurses that in turn affects retaining qualified and experiences staff in a healthcare organization. Such type of violence is considered as a major occupational hazard and condemned by major nursing organizations including the CENTER for American Nurses and American Nurse Organization. In the nursing profession workplace violence includes several types of negative behavior such as lateral violence, bullying and aggression. Lateral or horizontal violence is described as harmful or disrespectful behavior towards a coworker or a group of coworkers which in essence denies them of their basic human right and has a profound negative effect on their self-esteem and confidence (Becher & Visovsky, 2012). While lateral violence is mostly observed among peers or coworkers bullying is generally observed between a higher authority staff and those working under them such as a nursing supervisor and a staff nurse. Bullying is mostly verbal in nature which involves the use of abusive language, intimidation, insult and using authority to subdue, threaten or humiliate their subordinates (Lateral Violence and Bullying, 2008). When nurses are subjected to any kind of horizontal violence or bullying over a period of time it unduly affects them with physical, emotional, mental and financial consequences. In addition such workplace violence also brings forth negative consequences for the healthcare organization and patients in particular. Thus given the seriousness o...
In the early 1980s aggression and violence in the workplace have been a source of a lot of public discussion. (Piquero pg.383) The issues have risen again recently and have mostly been present in management and business fields. Workplace aggression often includes “behavior by an individual or individuals within or outside organizations that is intended to physically or psychologically harms a worker or workers and occurs in a work related”. (Schat& Kelloway Pg. 191) A national survey Conducted by the National Centers for Victims of Crime shows several statistics regarding workplace homicide by type show that is the year of (see fig. 1), violent crimes against victims working or an duty( see fig. 2) and nonfatal workplace violence committed by strangers(see fig. 3
Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you could be gunned down while tabulating this month’s sales figures, attending a working review of a future briefing or simply having coffee with a co-worker while you talk about the upcoming weekends plans? Perhaps it should, it crossed my mind several times after listening on the phone to the panic, screams and faint sound of gunfire occurred at the Washington Navy Yard. Despite my training and years of experience it seems that retirement has dulled my sight somewhat, I put those lenses back on a took a hard look at the building I work in between 40-50 hours a week a now see that it is a potential slaughterhouse. A design accentuated by limited exits within sight of one another, closed off office spaces and limited internal locks would provide an advantages to an active shooter with even limited skill.
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013), workplace violence epidemic in Canada is so concerning that health care professionals are at great risk for developing health problems and nurses may even leave the profession sooner than planned. Within this paper, I will explore the concept of workplace violence and the following three issues of negative impact of my psychological well-being, decreased self-esteem and a sense of powerlessness. In my paper, I will also provide a brief description of a clinical situation from my past nursing experience. I will also discuss the relevance of the topic as it relates to me personally and professionally. Then, I will identify, discuss and analyze three issues within the clinical situation and I will use theory to substantiate the points discussed. I will also discuss how my future practice may be influenced by my clinical situation and I will conclude based on what I have learned during the development of this paper.
Horizontal violence is psychological harassment that creates hostility in the workplace between two nurses or a nurse and another healthcare professional (Ditmer, 2010). The idea that horizontal violence exists in nursing is a phenomenon that is as ironic in the healthcare field that is supposed to be a ground for empathy, compassion and humanity. It is common yet many find it difficult and distressing to address. This harassment is usually presented in different ways including both aggressive along with disruptive behaviour, bullying, verbal abuse, humiliation, gossiping, threats, withholding information, and not properly explaining or training the processes (Ditmer, 2010, p. 9). As a nursing student, I have experienced horizontal violence numerous times whether in academics or in the clinical areas. Hence, this topic is important to me as I have experienced it first hand and important to nursing leadership as well because “leadership sets the scene, the attitudinal agenda, for a faculty or hospital.”( Scherbakova, 1995). Nursing leaders play an important role in managing and halting horizontal violence. This paper aims to explore the phenomenon that is horizontal violence, define and identify what constitutes horizontal violence in academics and clinical areas, its effects and the solutions to stop horizontal violence.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BIS), workplace violence affects 1.7 million people each year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 11,613 workplace homicide victims between 1992 and 2006. Averaging just under 800 homicides per year, the largest number of homicides in one year occurred in 1994, while the lowest number occurred in 2006 (CDC).
Today, the United States is considered to be one of the most diverse countries in the world with regards to its citizens being of a different race and ethnic background other than white, but sadly this was not always the case. During the post-emancipation era, also known as the period of “redemption” for southern whites, was a time of great racial violence and hate from most white individuals, typically farm and plantation owners, towards the newly freed slaves emancipated after the civil war, which of whom were predominantly black. Right before the civil war, society was separated into two racial hierarchies: white, and black. If an individual was of any color other than white they were labeled as a slave and considered someone’s, referring to white slave owners, property. After the civil war America’s social lifestyle and overall government changed dramatically due to the emancipation of slaves in the south. When African Americans were emancipated the idea and concept that was once accepted, any individual other than white is considered to be insubordinate and a slave, was now abolished and considered inhumane. This caused a major disruption within society because former slave owners lost huge amounts of manpower that use to work and generate profit by making enslaved individuals farm their land. As a result, once wealthy farmers and plantation owners became the poorest of poor with no one to work their fields and no money to even hire anyone because of post-war fees that needed to be paid. With that being said, African Americans are considered now to be citizens of the United States but sadly were not treated equally by their white peers till the Civil Rights Act (1964); and from the time of reconstruction through the period of...
Violence in our schools is an issue that has become more prominent in the last few years. News articles about violent deeds within the school setting are on the increase. Our society demands that schools are safe for our children. In order to maintain a peaceful environment for all, we must address and inform our schools, children, and parents as well as the neighboring communities about the issue of school violence. As David W. Johnson, the author of Reducing School Violence states, “To eliminate violence and resolve destructive conflicts, schools must first admit that such conflicts are out of control.” (Johnson 7) Schools in general must identify with these issues in order to deal with them.
Nurses continually strive to bring holistic, efficient, and safe care to their patients. However, if the safety and well-being of the nurses are threatened or compromised, it is difficult for nurses to work effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the position of the American Nurses Association (ANA) advocate that every nursing professional have the right to work in a healthy work environment free of abusive behavior such as bullying, hostility, lateral abuse and violence, sexual harassment, intimidation, abuse of authority and position and reprisal for speaking out against abuses (American Nurses Association, 2012).
Workplace deviance is a voluntary unethical behavior that disobeys organizational norms about wrong and right, and in doing so, threatens the wellbeing of the organization, and/or its members(Robinson and Bennett 555-572). According to Robinson and Bennett, “workplace deviances behavior varies along two dimensions: minor versus serious, and interpersonal (deviant behavior directed at other individuals in the organization) versus organizational (deviant behavior directed at the organization)” (555-572). Based on these dimensions it was further divided, into four categories: production deviance (leaving early, wasting resources etc.), property deviance (stealing ,destroying equipment etc.), political deviance (gossiping, favoritism etc.), and personal aggression (verbal abuse ,sexual harassment etc.) (Robinson and Bennett 555-572).According to Robinson and Bennett,workplace deviant behaviors cost U.S. companies approximately between $6 billion and $200 billion annually(555-572). In addition turnover, absences, and illness, and results in poor or lowered productivity, low morale, and litigation ., workplace deviances leads to misuse and loss of time, waste of resources, increases employee(Robinson and Bennett 555-572) .
Workplace harassment is unwelcome actions that are based on a person’s race, religion, color, and sex, and gender, country of origin, age, ethnicity or disability. The targets of the harassment are people who are usually perceived as “weaker” or “inferior” by the person who is harassing them. Companies and employers can also be guilty of workplace harassment if they utilize discriminatory practices against persons based on ethnicity, country of origin, religion, race, color, age, disability, or sex. These discriminatory practices have been illegal since the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Civil Rights Act of 1964), and have been amended to be more inclusive of other people who experience discrimination by the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (The Civil Rights Act of 1991), and most recently, President Obama’s signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (Stolberg, 2009).
Harassment and discrimination claims are due to lack of education about the subject. As an independent human resources consultant, Santiago-Santos will organize a local education campaign and provide employers with different trainings to educate them and their employees about harassment and discrimination. Employers will have a better understanding on how to develop internal policies and procedures to address these claims. Also, trainings will be provided for employees and they will be educated on how to prevent and identify harassment and discrimination as well as what steps to take in order to report such behavior.
Violence. Just mentioning the word conjures up many images of assault, abuse, and even murder. Violence is a broad subject with many categories. Some types of violence are terrorist violence and domestic violence. Violence can arise from many different sources; these sources whether biological, cultural, and social all can evoke violent behavior. All cultures experience some sort of violence, and this paper considers violence as a cultural phenomenon across a range of various settings. Violence plays a part in both Islamic and Indian cultures according to the articles “Understanding Islam” and “Rising Dowry Deaths” by Kenneth Jost and Amanda Hitchcock, respectively. From an anthropological perspective, violence emphasizes concerns of meaning, representation and symbolism.