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workplace violence are stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues the worker brings to, and which may be exacerbated by, the workplace. Work-related stress can contribute to short temper, according to the American Psychological Association. Many resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking or heavy drinking.

Recognizing the signs of stress— hostility toward coworkers, physical exhaustion, or taking more days off than usual—is a good first step to avoid workplace violence. So is offering formal employee assistance programs to help employees with stress management or emotional issues. But these programs are dependent on someone noticing a change in behavior or an employee asking for help.

These elements, and employee wellness programs in general, are usually ineffective over the long term in identifying and preventing possible health issues that could affect an employee’s emotional wellbeing. In fact, more than 90 percent of companies, and most government entities, offer some form of wellness programs for their employees.

But most of these initiatives, while well intentioned, fall short of producing long-term benefits. Instead, the initial groundswell of enthusiasm for the programs wanes after a while,