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Taking steps to prevent 'going postal'

Date:
October 13, 2011
Source:
SAGE Publications
Summary:
Workplace violence continues to be a topic of great importance to many companies, as tales of extreme cases hit the media. Today's human resources departments spend a great deal of time preparing for these cases. However, a new study questions whether time might be better invested in further investigation.
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Workplace violence continues to be a topic of great importance to many companies, as tales of extreme cases hit the media. Today's human resources departments spend a great deal of time preparing for these cases. However, a new study in the journal Advances in Developing Human Resources (ADHR) questions whether time might be better invested in further investigation.

In the article "Workplace Violence: Assessing Organizational Awareness and Planning Interventions," proposes that using a theory called awareness development to assess employees responses to situations can help HR departments better craft their workplace violence policies and procedures.

"The complexity of workplace violence demands a thoughtful diagnosis that provides a clear assessment of the organization's current situation so chosen strategies are appropriate," wrote author Martin B. Kormanik.

Part of that diagnosis process, Kormanik contends, is surveying employees to see where they are in one of the five stages of awareness development. These stages include pre-encounter (having little to no knowledge of workplace violence), intellectualization (having knowledge but no experience with workplace violence), encounter (having experience with workplace violence), empowerment (seeking strategies to adapt or cope after workplace violence), and integration (regaining a sense of control after workplace violence). In this study, most of the participants' organizations fell into the intellectualization stage.

Participants said "the largest percentage of the organization 'talks a good game' but has limited awareness of workplace violence issues," wrote Kormanik.

The author suggests the use of the awareness development theory to help companies assess their current status and plan initiatives based on awareness level of workplace violence.


Story Source:

Materials provided by SAGE Publications. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. B. Kormanik. Workplace Violence: Assessing Organizational Awareness and Planning Interventions. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 2011; DOI: 10.1177/1523422311410658

Cite This Page:

SAGE Publications. "Taking steps to prevent 'going postal'." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 October 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153950.htm>.
SAGE Publications. (2011, October 13). Taking steps to prevent 'going postal'. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153950.htm
SAGE Publications. "Taking steps to prevent 'going postal'." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153950.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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