Ideally, places of work should be rich in cooperation, with co-workers and managers working in tandem to reach business goals. In some instances, however, aggression upsets this harmony. Because aggression within the workplace can have an impact on the overall success of a business, it is necessary for individuals in leadership roles to understand the types of aggression they may find in their workplace and prepare to respond appropriately should aggression arise.
In the highly competitive and fast-paced world of business, verbal aggression is relatively common. As workers struggle to make their marks, they may inadvertently act aggressively toward each other. In other instances, workers are deliberately aggressive in response to a general distaste for their co-workers. Additionally, bullying sometimes shows up in the workplace. Generally, verbal aggression is more common than physical aggression because it is harder for management to combat.
Physical aggression has even more serious repercussions than verbal aggression. When physical aggression takes place within the work environment, employees can suffer injuries that may take them away from the job or even leave them with irrevocable disabilities. While individuals can take legal action against individuals who are verbally aggressive, taking legal action against physical aggressors is even easier as physical aggression is often easier to prove. If employees become embroiled in a legal battle as a result of an aggressive incident, the workplace will likely become disrupted.
In some instances, aggression arises as a result of an upset employee. When companies lay off or fire employees, for example, they may face bursts of aggression. As Rick Nauert reports for PsychCentral, employers should be cautious when delivering bad news to employees to avoid this potential aggression as, in some cases, such aggression can have deadly consequences. Instead of simply presenting employees with bad news without taking their response into consideration, employers should carefully tailor their delivery and do all they can to ensure that employees' emotions are taken into consideration when bad news is handed out.
Aggression of any type has serious consequences within the workplace. Even when aggression doesn't escalate to physical fighting, it can still hurt the workplace dynamic. If employees feel that the environment in which they work is rife with aggression, they may be less likely to emotionally commit to their jobs, likely reducing their overall effectiveness. Similarly, if customers sense that your workplace is one in which aggression is prevalent, they may feel less comfortable and, as a result, select a different vendor with whom to do business. In some severe instances, workers may sue employers who they can prove were aware of, but did nothing to stop, workplace aggression, making the failure to act a potentially costly one.
Optimally, all forms of aggression within the workplace should be prevented. To reduce the prevalence of aggression in your office environment, make it clear to workers that aggression will not be tolerated. Make sure you have a clear anti-harassment policy and procedures for handling incidents. If you receive reports of aggression within the workplace, deal with them swiftly, making it clear by your actions that you are going to stand up to all incidents of aggression, ensuring that your workplace is as harmonious as possible.
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