[CM] [Scenario] [6] Crisis Scenario Resulting from Workplace Violence

Crisis Scenario Resulting from Workplace Violence

Violence striking the workplace is a nightmare scenario for any organisation.

Unfortunately, the ugly reality is that these things can and do happen, as has once again been made apparent by several recent workplace shootings, all occurring within one week of each other.

Introduction

Workplace violence represents a serious and often unpredictable threat to employee safety, organisational morale, and operational continuity.

Whether arising from internal conflicts, disgruntled former employees, aggressive customers, or external attackers, these incidents can have severe consequences, including physical harm, legal liabilities, and long-lasting emotional trauma.

The nature of these crises means they often unfold suddenly and require an immediate, coordinated response to minimise impact and protect lives.

Beyond the immediate harm caused, workplace violence can lead to staff resignations, reputational fallout, and even regulatory penalties if the organisation is found to have neglected preventive measures.

Effective crisis planning involves not only physical security but also employee support systems, behavioural risk monitoring, and communicated response protocols.

The table that follows presents real-world examples of workplace violence scenarios, providing organisations with a framework to recognise vulnerabilities and implement practical safeguards.

Definition: Crisis Scenario – Due to Workplace Violence

Crisis Scenario: Workplace Violence refers to incidents where physical force, threats, intimidation, or aggressive behaviour occur within or are directed toward the workplace.

These acts can involve employees, customers, contractors, or outsiders and may result in injury, psychological trauma, operational disruption, or reputational damage.

Workplace violence includes a broad spectrum of actions, from verbal abuse and bullying to assault, armed intrusion, or acts driven by personal or ideological motives.

Example of Crisis Scenario: Due to Workplace Violence

This is a list of examples for the crisis scenario: Due to Workplace Violence, which includes incidents where physical violence, threats, harassment, or intimidation occur within or are related to the workplace, resulting in disruption, fear, injuries, or reputational harm.

No.	Example	Description
1	Employee-on-Employee Assault	A physical altercation between colleagues escalates into violence, requiring security or police intervention.
2	Aggressive Customer Attack	A customer becomes physically violent toward frontline staff due to dissatisfaction or mental instability.
3	Former Employee Returning with Intent to Harm	A recently terminated staff member returns armed or in a hostile manner, posing a threat to personnel safety.
4	Domestic Violence Spills into the Workplace	A staff member is confronted or attacked at the workplace by an abusive partner or spouse.
5	Workplace Stalking and Harassment	An employee is repeatedly followed, harassed, or threatened by a co-worker or outsider.
6	Armed Robbery or Invasion	Armed individuals forcibly enter premises (e.g., banks, retail outlets) to steal cash or assets.
7	Verbal Threats of Violence	An employee or customer makes credible threats to harm others, prompting evacuation or lockdown.
8	Bullying Leading to Physical Confrontation	Long-standing workplace bullying escalates into physical violence or self-harm.
9	Violent Protest at Company Premises	An external protest turns violent with clashes between demonstrators and security personnel.
10	Violence Linked to Racial or Religious Tension	Conflict between employees from different backgrounds results in a violent incident or hate crime.
11	Suicide Attempt or Self-Harm at the Workplace	A staff member attempts suicide or engages in self-harm on-site, causing trauma to colleagues.
12	Assault by Delivery Personnel or Contractors	A third-party vendor physically attacks staff over a dispute or perceived mistreatment.
13	Threats from a Client or Partner Organisation	An external party threatens violence over a failed deal, contract termination, or business dispute.
14	Intoxicated Individual Attacks Staff	A visitor or staff member under the influence of alcohol or drugs engages in violent behaviour.
15	Terror-Linked Acts in the Workplace	An individual with extremist motives commits or threatens violence targeting the company or its people.

Reflection as a BCM and CM Practitioner

As discussed in "What Crisis or Crisis Scenario Should I Be Planning For My Organisation?", you may wonder whether this type of crisis is outside your job scope. Click the right icon to read more.

The key to this discussion is to identify the types of crisis scenarios, and for responsible professionals who have recognised the potential crisis, to raise it with the right interested parties to implement the crisis response to this set of specific crisis scenarios.

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/Hybrid Learning Course

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].