Today the threat of violence impacting worker safety and business operations is a major concern. It is crucial that thoughtful violence prevention policies and supporting violence response plans be developed before any incidents occur in order to properly prepare to use, respond, engage, and react appropriately. Once violence begins or ends is not good enough. The threats are real, and the risks must be managed. A violent threat from a current or former employee, domestic violence or relationship violence spillovers, and the threat posed by criminals committing crimes against people and property are concerns for which all organizations must prepare. Incident avoidance is not acceptable – indeed, most likely not possible. Our job is to make it manageable.

This book, Combating Workplace Violence, provides a basic understanding of workplace violence as well as prevention policy and plan development in nontechnical terms. The key to the successful development and implementation of a w+orkplace prevention policy is the collaborative proactive leadership of company executives and management and the assistance of a qualified, reputable consultant. While the information and tools contained here are designed to serve as a baseline for any organization’s solution to workplace violence, the material is useful to inform and educate any member of an organization. The unique framework (V-REEL®) for analyzing the organization’s internal environment to determine what can be done to try to eradicate or reduce workplace violence is especially useful. Ancillaries following each chapter provide additional information and tools to assist your planning. We envision this book being used to inform managers, human resource professionals, workers, and academics in all types of organizations. Hopefully, using the material and framework of this book, more organizations will develop policies, procedures, and practices to prevent workplace violence.