Toxic Workplace Culture: Can Workplace Violence Prevention Training Help?

In September of 2019, the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) released a new report titled The High Cost of a Toxic Workplace Culture: How Culture Impacts the Workforce–And the Bottom Line.  Some key findings:

• Nearly half of American Workers have thought about leaving their current organization. 
• Nearly 1/5 have left their job in the past 5 years and culture is the reason why.
• Over the past 5 years, the cost of turnover due to Workplace Culture exceeded $223 Billion.

Of course, the report did not draw the conclusion that increasing Workplace Violence Prevention training would be a great way to reverse some of these trends. In fact, not surprisingly, much of the focus was on the role managers often have in creating toxic workplaces as well as of their unique ability to help generate positive changes too. But in reading the report, I couldn’t help thinking about the fact that some of the behaviors that help create a toxic work culture, are behaviors that should actually be considered acts of Workplace Violence. And that’s where training can make a difference.

Often, people explain away or tolerate behavior that makes them uncomfortable–or even angry–but stops short of actual, physical violence. However, if they’re properly trained,people learn that bullying or psychologically intimidating behavior should also be identified and addressed as Workplace Violence. In other words, such behaviors should be brought forward as part of an organization-wide commitment to providing and nurturing a positive Workplace Culture.

Though the ultimate goal of Workplace Violence Prevention training is to be aware of and address problematic behavior before it potentially escalates into violence, the secondary impact might, in the end, be even more significant. Framed within an empathic mindset, awareness and prevention training has the potential to help create a more positive Workplace Culture, which can have a positive impact on the kinds of troubling statistics SHRM presented last fall.