Traumatic Workplace Event & Violence Counselling
Prevention & Treatment
Starts with Understanding
A workplace traumatic event is a traumatic incident that occurs in the workplace, such as a workplace shooting, an act of violence, an accident, or a natural disaster. These events can have a significant emotional and psychological impact on those affected, often leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, and trauma.
Workplace Traumatic Events can also be defined as:
Bullying at the workplace is any type of abusive, intimidating, or aggressive behavior that is directed at an individual or group of people, with the intention of creating an environment of fear, discomfort, humiliation, or distress. It can take the form of verbal abuse, threats, physical intimidation, exclusion, or sabotage, and can have a significant impact on an individual‘s mental and physical health.
Harassment at the workplace is any kind of behavior that is unwelcome, offensive, intimidating, or hostile and is based on a person‘s sex, race, age, national origin, disabilities, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. Examples of harassment can include unwanted sexual advances, derogatory comments or jokes, intimidating or offensive behavior, or other types of verbal or physical behavior.
Oppression at the workplace is any form of discrimination, abuse, or harassment that is based on a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic defined by federal, state, or local law. This can include unequal access to job opportunities, promotions, pay, or other benefits; bullying or intimidating behavior; and/or hostile work environments.
Discrimination in the workplace is any type of unfair treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on gender, race, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other protected trait. This can include denying someone a job, paying them less than their counterparts, or creating a hostile work environment.
Gaslighting in the workplace is a form of psychological manipulation in which an individual or group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted employee, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment. It is an insidious form of emotional abuse in which false information is presented with the intent of making someone question their own perceptions, memories, and sanity.
Misleading in the workplace can include making false promises, providing inaccurate information, withholding important information, and exaggerating facts. It can also include lying, manipulating, or deceiving an employee or coworker.
A Veiled Threat in the workplace is when an employer or coworker makes a veiled threat of potential consequences if an employee does not comply with specific requests. These could include threats of being fired, demotion, or other negative consequences.
What are the stats surrounding Workplace Violence in Canada and US?
Statistics surrounding workplace violence in Canada and the United States vary. In Canada, the latest statistics from 2019 show that there were over 2,000 workplace violence incidents reported.
In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were over 2.8 million instances of nonfatal workplace violence reported in 2019.
The same report also revealed that almost half of the incidents in the US involved the use of a weapon, while the majority of incidents in Canada did not.
Impact of Workplace Violence on someone’s life
Workplace Violence or Traumatic Event Prevention
To prevent becoming a victim of workplace violence or a traumatic event, it is important to remain aware of your environment and to trust your instincts.
If something doesn’t feel right, it is important to take action and remove yourself from the situation. It is also important to maintain good communication with coworkers and management.
Additionally, it is important to have safety protocols in place and to be familiar with them.
Treating Someone Exposed Traumatic Events at the Workplace
Treating someone exposed to traumatic events at the workplace involves providing psychological first aid. This includes providing emotional support, providing physical care, providing practical assistance, and helping the person build a sense of safety, security, and control. Additionally, it is important to provide referrals to mental health professionals and support services as needed.
