Pulse - June 2024 - 9

type of consumer.
* Type III: Offender is either a current or former employee
who is acting out toward coworkers, managers, or
supervisors.
* Type IV: Offender is not an employee, but has a personal
relationship with an employee. These incidents are often
the result of domestic disagreements between the employee
and offender.
Veterinary clinics are vulnerable to all four types of workplace
violence, with Type II being the most common. Over
the years, there have been numerous news accounts of violence
perpetrated against veterinarians and staff by clients. A
sampling:
* In 2012, a veterinarian in Ojai, California, was severely
beaten by a man over the death of the assailant's dog.
* In 2014, a man distraught over the death of his cat walked
into a veterinary clinic in Bellingham, Washington, and
stabbed the attending veterinarian with a kitchen knife.
After threatening other staff members, the assailant drove
to another nearby veterinary clinic, where he stabbed a
female employee in the throat.
* In 2020, a veterinarian in Calgary, Canada, was physically
assaulted over a sick guinea pig.
* In 2023, a veterinarian in Vallejo, California, was assaulted
by a disgruntled client who blamed the practitioner for the
death of their cat. The veterinarian was so distraught over
the incident that she closed her practice.
Workplace violence against veterinarians and staff is not
just a problem in the United States. In 2021, a veterinarian in
England was struck by a dead hedgehog during an altercation
with the animal's owners. And in Japan, a 2022 study published
in Open Veterinary Journal revealed that 40 percent of
responding veterinarians had experienced some form of workplace
violence or harassment. [1]
The cost of workplace violence can be high, and affect all
involved. " First and foremost, it harms workers - often both
physically and emotionally - and makes it more difficult
for them to do their jobs, " notes a December 2015 OSHA
report. " Employers also bear several costs. A single serious
injury can lead to workers' compensation losses of thousands
of dollars, along with thousands of dollars in additional costs
for overtime, temporary staffing, or recruiting and training a
replacement. Even if a worker does not have to miss work,
violence can lead to 'hidden costs' such as higher turnover and
deterioration of productivity and morale. "
The prevention of workplace violence begins with a zerotolerance
policy against workplace violence that includes
PULSE
JUNE 2024
THE RISK FROM WITHIN
Not all perpetrators of workplace violence are outsiders -
violence can come from within as well, reports the FBI and
other law enforcement agencies.
In many cases, sudden acts of violence by employees are
preceded by a variety of telling behaviors, such as:
Sadness
Depression
Threats
Menacing or erratic behavior
Aggressive outbursts
References to guns or other weapons
Verbal abuse
Inability to handle criticism
Hypersensitivity to perceived slights
Offensive commentary or jokes referring to violence
If such behaviors worsen, or occur in clusters, the likelihood
of a violent act increases. Managers and coworkers can
intervene in a number of ways, including checking-in to make
sure the individual is all right, and letting them vent if they
need to. Often, the opportunity to discuss their issues with
an understanding colleague can go a long way toward making
the individual feel better. This type of intervention can occur
in person, or via email or text.
Employees should be encouraged to report disturbing comments
or actions by coworkers to their supervisors or HR,
so that action can be taken. Indicators of potential violence
should never be ignored, and the police should be notified if
the issue rises to the point where office staff feel unsafe.
-DV
9
Pulse - June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse - June 2024
