INCREASE WORKPLACE WELLNESS

WRITER: JOY STEPHENSON-LAWS

The recent killings in Orlando of five people by a disgruntled former employee is a tragic reminder that workplace violence remains a real and increasing threat to America’s workforce.

About 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence every year and this number is increasing, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Even more alarming is homicide being the fourth-leading cause of workplace deaths. In addition to the human toll, estimates put the economic cost of workplace violence at more than $55 billion.

In response, companies have instituted policies prohibiting any type of workplace violence, including inappropriate language, sexual harassment, and bullying, to stem this tide. While these measures have had a positive effect in reducing the levels of some workplace violence, it is clear from the statistics they don’t go far enough.

In my view as a health-care attorney, business owner, and specialist in proactive, preventive health care, these policies miss the mark by primarily aiming to control the symptoms of workplace violence rather than addressing the underlying issues that contribute to it.

The job-related physical and mental health issues that often trigger