ABSTRACT

Many companies and organizations in the United States have taken steps to safeguard their employees in the workplace through a myriad of security measures, policy changes, and other methods. The potential legal liabilities in this particular area have drastically increased for employers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have provided guidelines for specific industries, such as the retail industry and health care operations. As employers attempt to address the potential risks of workplace violence and the correlating legal risks and costs, they must be very cautious so as not to trample upon the individual's rights and freedom. As employers develop and implement more stringent activities and programs to curtail or minimize the potential risks of workplace violence, they must be extremely careful not to create additional legal risks through their actions. In most circumstances, employers are better able to combat the potential risk of workplace violence when the threat is initiated by an employee rather than an ex-employee.