ASSIGNMENT NO: 1 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Submitted by: Arooj Amjad Roll no: 09012120-002 Semester: 05 Program: B.B.A(hons) Evening Topic: Case study WORKPLACE VIOLENCE Submitted to: Respected Mam Javeria Nasir Date: 30th November,2011

Summary:
The case WORKPLACE VIOLENCE has evoked the serious issue of the violent behavior of employees of the organization and has narrated the few incidents of DaimlerChryslers Toledo, Ohio, Assembly Plant where one of the employees comes with shotgun in his hand and kills few colleagues and then finally shots himself. This is perhaps the shocking attitude and needs to be taken into account. Workplace violence has become National Epidemic as its spreading very rapidly. Study of the Bureau of Labor statistics states that 18,104 assaults and 609 homicides occurred at workplace throughout United States in 2002 a big ratio indeed. The point to ponder is why employee show such behavior whether its the individual himself responsible for this or its the consequences of happenings in that organization. American Society of Safety Engineers predicted that only 1 percent of the U.S. businesses have formal antiviolence policy which is very least percentage so, the organizations must take steps to reduce workplace violence like the business can observe every little thing in organization, introduce new security policies etc.cases are being filed against the companies in this regard so, its must be taken into account as it is the very important issue because it may affect the whole functioning of the organization, its repute and ultimately the whole business. QUESTION/ANSWERS QUES# 1 How liable should be company for violent acts that are committed during work by their own employees? ANSWER: Every organization depends on its employees for its proper functioning whereas the employees in return depend on the organization for their well being and smooth running of the career. Both have direct relationship, if one fails the other fails and if one wins the other wins too. Neither of them can work alone nor succeed or fail. The organization has obligations and responsibilities towards its employees whereas in return employees also have to fulfill its job requirements, duties, responsibilities etc. Now if undesirable and any unpleasant incident happens in any of the organization neither of them can be blamed alone. If an employee in the organization shows violent behavior disrupts the functioning of the organization through his acts then we must ponder that what has happened that actually led to such kind of behavior of that employee. Was it some personal reason or some organizational issue. So, company is liable to such kinds of violent behavior because the communities and people outside the organization consider the whole organization not just the single individual working in that organization. As in the case of the incident narrated is that one of the employees

comes with shotgun in his hands and kill few of his colleagues. So, organization owes the responsibilities of security, safety and safeguard of its employees as when you are within the boundaries of organization you are working for them. Furthermore, the family of the killed person will be questioned to the organization not the individual who showed violent behavior. So, its the organization that is liable for such acts within its boundaries. Any organization must give its set of rules to all the employees working in it. So, that the employees must be aware of their roles and responsibilities and if the organization do not want to be held responsible for any such injuries and violent behavior then it should take all its employees into a contract an mention all terms and conditions in it. So, that no one could be able to blame it someday or the other. QUES#2 Can companies completely prevent workplace violence? If not, what steps can they take to reduce it? ANSWER: Nothing can be plucked out from roots within no time, things need and take time to happen. Same is the case of violent behavior within an organization. Companies can prevent workplace violence but cannot do this all of a sudden. Companies can check their rules and procedures and can make amendments accordingly. Companies can start the process of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE i.e. the ability to detect and manage the emotional cues and information so that company might come to know about the rash behaviors of others before time and can prevent them from happening. Companies must ensure the friendly environment where employees are given a chance and freedom to express themselves. Where they could be able to narrate their needs, problems and other issues. If everybody in the organization will be threatened by the higher authorities then there will be insecurities and fuss all around. So, people should be set free to express themselves within the formal boundaries of the business. Organizations human resource management should be efficient enough to cater the legal needs of the employees. Factors like high power distance, discrimination, unethical behavior etc should be controlled and minimized to ensure safe and friendly working atmosphere. Organization must look upon its employees as individuals and must consider the fact that nowadays its workforce diversity everywhere. Hence, the people of same caliper, nature, behavior cannot be found everywhere. So, to make sure that employees work properly,

give good response, abide by the violent behavior, companies must take into account their varying culture, language, approaches towards professionalism etc. Security cameras can be places within the organization because it is a common observation that people work far better if they know that they are being watched. Furthermore, it will help to know about all what is happening within an organization Companies must sign PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACTS i.e. the unwritten agreement that sets out what management expects from employees and vice versa.

QUES#3 Why do you think only 1 percent of companies have formal antiviolence policies? ANSWER: It is the common observation that people become negligent to the incidents that happen once in a blue moon. In such cases people never look upon such issues even when they become epidemic. Same is the case with the workplace violence, as these incidents happen very rarely so people and authorities never think a lot about them. Even now when they have become NATIONAL EPIDEMIC people still show negligent behavior and that is the reason why only 1 percent of the companies have formal antiviolence policies. People show lack of seriousness in this regard. Organizations are not stressing upon the poor consequences of workplace violence and are careless and hence, majority of the businesses have not yet given its formal antiviolence policies. QUES#4 Some companies are considering the fact of installation of metal detectors to prevent workplace violence. Do you think these measures infringe too much on individual privacy? In other words, can a company take prevention too far? ANSWER: As the issue of workplace violence is National Epidemic so, to prevent them companies are coming up with new ways to protect their employees and business and to ensure success. Installation of metal detectors in the organization can prevent workplace violence to a large extent because if any weapon would not be allowed to enter the boundaries of the organization ultimately, the chances of violence will be reduced to a large extent and people working inside the organization will be having a sense of security. To give freedom and privacy is good but only until and unless its used in a proper way. So, when in any business people start breaking rules, misbehaving, killing others etc then it becomes utmost important for that business to take some serious actions; which for the time being will not

be liked by the majority of people but after carefully analyzing and watching good consequences of these protective measures people will eventually start promoting them because above all they had been places and implemented for their own benefits and safeguard. QUES#5 What factors might lead to violent acts in the workplace? Are these committed by only few sick people or many individuals capable of committing acts given certain circumstances? ANSWER: There might be many factors that lead to the workplace violence. The factors could be both physical and psychological. In most of the cases the violent acts are most probably committed by the sick people whereas in some cases they can be the cause of some external influence on that particular person. Some of the factors that might lead to workplace violence are: Deviant workplace behavior:

The employee might voluntarily want to disturb the business settings and may misuse the position and cause violence that would lead to severe after effects. Lack of freedom:

It is well known that a little freedom is necessary at every step. If an employee is given only position but not authority he would not find himself comfortable and will not work properly and efficiently. This may lead to the psychological disturbance, anger will arouse in him, everything might seem unhappy and irritating for him. All such feelings will give rise to the violent behavior in him Unsatisfaction:

Its the nature of men that when he feels contented and satisfied he works properly and happily. He finds happiness in everything he does. But if things are disturbing, unsatisfactory then he will not be able to work properly. People will always find him in a rude and irritating mood. Consequently, it may happen that people start hating him and such feelings of hatred surely leads him to violent behavior. Jealousy:

If someone is jealous of someone he will always be in search of things that might disgrace the person from whom he is jealoused of. Feelings and pangs of jealousy always lead to some unexpected and shocking behavior.

In any organization competition is always there. Employees are always at the verge of gaining more and more and are in competition with their subordinates and in doing so some mentally sick people forget their limitations and violate rules and commit violent activities as they want to achieve their goal by hook or by crook. Lack of self- respect:

To maintain the self respect, self esteem and ego are some of the natural phenomenon in human beings. Sometimes, it happens that people might suffer physical cruelty of someone but when it comes to self respect they start making it the matter of life and death. In the organizational environment where people are working together, competing each other for achieving goals, many things can happen. As the people in organization are all from varying culture and background; things good and right for one person might be bad and wrong for the other. So, in this scenario employees need to be patient and critical but this does not happen actually. People most of the times take things personally and act rationally and take everything as a matter of self respect and ego and when he feels that his self respect is suffering he becomes totally changed , act inhumanly and show violent behavior. Anxiety and depression:

People suffering from anxiety and depression are sick people and such kinds of people are not mostly aware of their actions. They may do anything anytime without thinking about the consequences of their actions. They should not be hired and if hired then there must be some sort of special treatment for them. Inequality and discrimination:

If in any organization the setup is based on inequality, discrimination, favoritism etc it might lead to very poor after effects. People will always try to disgrace others, this will create a fuss in overall organization and people will ultimately become impatient, rude and will commit violent behavior. There could be many other factors leading to violence like workforce diversity, power distance, organizational environment etc.