Do not ignore a coworker’s threats of violence against you or others and wait for the issue to go away on its own. According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study, Smith, Gambrell and Russell, LLP reports that 41% of women who died from occupational injuries were killed at work. Learn what to do if a coworker threatens you before it’s too late.
- Bullying or insulting language. …
- Direct threats or harassment. …
- Assess the situation. …
- Determine your response. …
- Make a report. …
- Follow up on your report. …
- Review company policies. …
- Document the process.
What to do if you’re threatened at work
If you experience a situation at work where you feel threatened, follow these steps:
Assess the situation
When faced with a potentially dangerous situation at work, take some time to assess the circumstance before acting. Consider the actions you witnessed the other person take, and attempt to categorize the threat you perceived. Write down the precise words they used when they threatened you or someone else so you can relay this information accurately. Likewise, keep a copy of the message as proof if the threat was communicated via email or another messaging platform.
Consider making notes about each time the other person engages in these actions if they are frequent repetitions. These notes provide more evidence and show a pattern of harassing or threatening behavior. You can also ask witnesses who saw these actions what they saw in order to get their support and evidence. You may learn more about the person by asking other coworkers about them, such as whether they have a history of inappropriate behavior.
Determine your response
You can start preparing for or implementing your response to the behaviors as you evaluate the situation. It’s a good idea to respond calmly and withdraw from an interaction when someone directly threatens you. It’s wise to refrain from taking actions that might possibly incite people to act in an unpredictable manner or escalate the situation. For instance, you might find it appropriate to leave the area if someone threatens you in person. Seek out assistance and safety from others at work, if at all possible.
If you receive a threatening phone call, voicemail, or email, you may decide not to respond. This strategy may help you stop the situation from getting worse. Save these messages once more in case you need to provide evidence of the threatening behavior in reports in the future. While you observe this person’s behavior and decide how to report it, try to avoid them if at all possible.
Make a report
You might need to make a formal report or complaint if the threatening behaviors persist and interfere with your ability to perform your job. You can begin by discussing the matter with your immediate supervisor and outlining the precise behaviors, actions, and words that the other party used. If you have proof of the threats in writing, you can show it to the supervisor. Consider asking other coworkers for their permission to use them as witnesses to this behavior so that the supervisor can learn more details and better understand the situation.
You might also be required to submit a report to the human resources office, depending on the circumstance or your place of employment. For instance, if your supervisor is displaying threatening behavior, you might want to speak with HR directly to get the issue resolved. These experts frequently have conflict resolution training, and they thoroughly examine employee grievances to make sure the workplace is safe. They also aid in establishing guidelines for acceptable conduct at work and how to deal with or discipline threatening behavior.
Follow up on your report
The subsequent steps in this process can differ based on the circumstance or workplace. It might be necessary for your boss or HR experts to look into the threatening actions and speak with the participants. They could then conduct an assessment to decide the best course of action to maintain the reputation of the company, uphold company policies, and keep the workplace safe. Depending on the severity of the employee’s actions, they might give them a warning or terminate their employment, for instance. After reporting the incident, be sure to follow up with the HR division or your supervisor as necessary.
Consider asking the management or HR staff about the timeline for their decision when you report the incident. To be considerate of their time and prevent overwhelming them, you can send a follow-up message to these experts if you haven’t heard anything within this timeline. Wait two to three weeks before contacting the company if they don’t provide a timeline.
What are some signs you’re being threatened at work?
A threat is a statement made with the intent to harm another person physically, psychologically, or in some other way. Individuals may encounter threats at work from coworkers, managers, or subordinates. A threat is typically a statement that causes someone to feel uneasy or unsafe at work. Individuals may experience different types of threatening behaviors, such as:
Bullying or insulting language
Individuals may encounter threatening behavior not directed at them. In these circumstances, coworkers or managers might make bullying or derogatory remarks about specific employee groups. For instance, someone might disparage a certain race or make a sexist remark about someone based on their gender.
Even though they don’t directly express their malicious intent, these remarks frequently make people feel uncomfortable. These workers may be concerned that the harasser will treat them unfairly, harming their opportunities to succeed professionally and at work.
Direct threats or harassment
At work, people may also experience direct cases of harassment or threats. These threats could include bodily harm or other types of harm to the individual’s personal or professional lives. They may threaten to harm the person after work or use a more general phrase like, “If you don’t do this, you’ll be very sorry,” to intimidate someone. Direct threats cause a person to feel threatened and unsafe at work.
Threats against whistleblowers are one type of specific threat that occurs in workplaces. A whistleblower is someone who alerts the authorities to unethical, illegal, or other illegal behavior at an organization. Employees who encounter this situation can report such threats to legal professionals because they frequently have legal protections, including from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Following an investigation into the incident, employers who make threats against whistleblowers may face consequences.
Tips to handle a threatening work environment
The advice provided below can help you deal with and navigate threat situations at work:
Review company policies
Usually, businesses give employees a copy of the rules they have in place for proper behavior at work. These documents typically also describe your rights as an organization’s employee. These resources can help you assess potentially dangerous situations and decide what actions are appropriate and inappropriate. You may also find the proper reporting procedures in employee handbooks, which will make this situation easier for you to handle.
Document the process
Keep a record of every interaction you have with the person you are reporting and the staff members to whom you are reporting the incidents throughout the entire situation. It is simpler to accurately report threatening behaviors to the appropriate staff members when you have notes or other tangible proof. This evidence can also help streamline their investigation process.
Similarly, keep records of your correspondence with your superiors or HR personnel regarding the report. These experts are in charge of conducting a moral and impartial investigation into the situation. With the aid of this documentation, you can strengthen your argument if you decide to pursue further action because you believe the result to be unfair or incorrect.
Seek support
When you start to feel uncomfortable, tell your coworkers if you have any friends there. These coworkers will frequently be there for you as you navigate the situation, offering guidance on what to do next and making you feel more at ease at work.
Look for people who have engaged in similar behaviors, as they can assist you in demonstrating the effects of the individual’s actions. As previously mentioned, they might also act as eyewitnesses to the threatening behavior, allowing your supervisor or the HR department to speak with them to learn more about what they saw or experienced.
Contact legal professionals when necessary
You may need to assess whether it meets your expectations depending on the results of your supervisors’ or HR departments’ investigation. For instance, you might think about taking further action if the individual continues to work for the company and threatens or harasses you. You can seek assistance from outside sources, such as legal experts, if you still feel unsafe or didn’t receive enough internal support.
You can get legal advice or direction from employment attorneys to determine your options and rights. Make sure you have saved records of communications with all parties involved, including the threat maker and those in charge of handling your complaint or report. Depending on your circumstance, they might assist you in making complaints to government bodies. For those who have reported wrongdoing and received threats from employers, OSHA, for instance, provides a complaint form.
You should speak with a lawyer about any potential legal issues because this article is only meant to be informational and not legal advice.
What to do when threatened at work, Part 1
FAQ
What is considered a threat in the workplace?
As defined by the U. S. A workplace violence incident, according to the Department of Labor, is defined as “a verbal, written, or physically aggressive threat or attack intended to intimidate, cause injury to, or cause the death of, others in a place of employment.”
What should I do if someone threatens me at work?
Simply put, if a coworker or manager says something hurtful, express your offence and ask them not to say anything similar in the future. Report the issue if they persist in insulting or provoking you, or if your request for them to stop is met with hostility.
Is threatening a coworker grounds for termination?
If your boss threatens to fire you, even though you may not be able to change the state of the job market generally, you may still be able to do something about it. Threatening to fire an employee is a form of extortion that is prohibited in California.
