Workplace violence in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. There is no shortage of data that illuminates assaults, or the constant threat of assault, that occur in organizations of all sizes and across all industries.
The extent of the violence against workers is staggering. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), each year an average of almost 2 million U.S. employees report having been a victim of violence while on the job. The financial burden from the assaults cannot be ignored either. The Department of Justice puts the estimated annual cost to employers of workplace violence at $121 billion.