bullying and workplace violence

Bullying and Workplace Violence

Janet Parker, D.V.M.Medical Whistleblower

P.O. Box CLawrence , KS 66044

MedicalWhistleblower@gmail.com

Bureau of Justice Statistics 2001 • 1.7 million workers are injured each year during workplace assaults • Violent workplace incidents account for 18% of all violent crime in the United

States• Each year 807 workplace homicides

5 million U.S. hospital workers

• Hospital workers - High Risk

• 2,637 nonfatal assaults on hospital workers occurred in 1999-a rate of 8.3 assaults per 10,000 workers.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Effects of Violence

• Range in intensity and include the following:– Minor physical injuries– Serious physical injuries– Temporary and permanent physical disability– Psychological trauma– Death

Risk Factors

• Volatile people - the influence of drugs or alcohol

• History of violence or certain psychotic diagnoses

• Working when understaffed-especially during meal times and visiting hours

Hospital Risk Factors• Long waits for service• Overcrowded, uncomfortable waiting

rooms• Working alone• Inadequate security• Lack of staff training and policies for

preventing and managing crises with potentially volatile patients

• Drug and alcohol abuse

• Access to firearms

• Unrestricted movement of the public

• Poorly lit corridors, rooms, parking lots, and other areas

Watch for signals

• Verbally expressed anger and frustration• Body language such as threatening gestures• Signs of drug or alcohol use• Presence of a weapon• Evaluate each situation for potential

violence when you enter a room or begin to relate to a patient or visitor.

Help Diffuse Anger

• Present a calm, caring attitude.• Don't match the threats. Don't give orders.• Acknowledge the person's feelings (for

example, "I know you are frustrated").• Avoid any behavior that may be interpreted

as aggressive (for example, moving rapidly, getting too close, touching, or speaking loudly).

Typology of violence

• I: Criminal intent 85% of all homicides• II: Customer/client 3% of all homicides• III: Worker-on-worker - Worker-on-worker

fatalities account for approximately 7% of all workplace homicides.

• IV: Personal relationship - 5% of all workplace homicides

Barriers to Prevention

• Denial, Lack of Teamwork• Lack of incentives or disincentives• Lack of Worker Empowerment• Lack of Awareness & Policy• Lack of Information/Lack of Reporting• Lack of Communication/Training• Lack of Resources

How can people be so cruel?

Across the land, away from the spotlight, a different kind of suffering goes on unnoticed - in homes, workplaces, schools, and universities. I am talking about intentional cruelty against other human beings, such as physical and emotional abuse, bullying, oppression and exploitation...

Workplace Bullying

• Bullying is: – Persistent , unwelcome– Intrusive behavior of one or more individuals

whose actions prevent others from fulfilling their duties

– Hierarchical and can be traced to the top or near the top

– Denial is the most common strategy employed by toxic managements

Purpose of Bullying

• To hide the inadequacy of the bully • Has nothing to do with "management" or

the achievement of tasks • Projection of Bully’s inadequacies onto

others to distract and divert attention away from himself/herself

Tip of Iceberg

• Misappropriation of budgets• Harassment• Discrimination• Breaches of rules, regulations, professional

codes of conduct and health and safety practices

Common Denominator

• The common denominator of harassment, discrimination, stalking and abuse

• A harasser or discriminator focuses on race or gender or disability

• Bullies focus on competence and popularity

Emotionally Immature

• Seethe with Resentment and Anger • Jealousy and Envy • Pick on employees who are good at their

job and popular with people• Crave attention and become resentful when

others get more attention for their competence and achievements

Profile of a Bully• Compulsive lying• Dr. Jekyll and Hyde nature• High verbal facility• Charming • Capacity to deceive• Arrested level of emotional development• Compulsive need to control

Typical Outcomes for Target

• Target is at least average, probably above average in job performance and yet……

• Forced resignation• Unfair dismissal• Early or ill- health retirement whilst the

bully is promoted

Tim Field’s Study in UK

• 12-50% of the workforce experience bullying

• 20% of cases from the education sector• 12% are from healthcare • 10% are from social services • 6% from the voluntary / charity / not-for-

profit sector.

Direct Costs

• US $7-17 billion – even $44 billion

• However 20% of employers still do not regard stress as a health and safety issue, instead preferring to see it as malingering.

Indirect Costs

• Higher-than average staff turnover • Increased Absenteeism• Increased costs of staff cover • Increased administration costs• Loss of production and reduced

productivity

Spreads like Cancer

• Subtle in nature, bullying • Difficult to recognize • Excessive workloads • Lack of support • Climate of fear • High levels of insecurity

Psychological Trauma

• Bullying is a form of psychological and emotional rape because of its intrusive and violational nature

• Prolonged Bullying can cause Complex Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

For Additional Information

• The Workplace Bullying Institute, WBI Founded by Dr. Ruth Namie and Dr. Gary Namie

• Bully on Line – Tim Fields website

Contact us

Dr. Janet Parker, D.V.M.Medical Whistleblower

P.O. Box CLawrence , KS 66044

MedicalWhistleblower@gmail.com