Imagine this: You’re at work, it’s been a long day, and suddenly, a colleague makes a snide comment that hits you in just the wrong way. You’ve been holding in frustration for weeks, and this one comment feels like the last straw. You lash out, words are exchanged, and before you know it, the situation has escalated beyond control. What started as a verbal altercation now turns physical, and in a moment of anger, everything changes. 

Hi all! I’m Marty with Warehouse and Operations as a Career, and today I’d like to talk about workplace violence—how a single moment of anger can not only impact your career but can have lasting effects on your personal life, your future, and the well-being of your family. We’ll explore the far-reaching consequences of assault and discuss the vital importance of de-escalation and reporting incidents of bullying or violence in the workplace.” 

A few weeks ago I was speaking with a few associates at a large production facility, they were a bit shocked that a recent event, a small pushing scuffle was how they were describing it, had stirred up such a fuss with the management team.  

In our industry we’ve learned, and I hope throughout life that we’ve learned, it’s never ok to lay hands on another person, even touch another person, for any reason, in a harmful way at school or work. And you can put a period at the end of that sentence.    

We got to talking about what can happen and how serious are those consequences. So lets talk about a few of them.   

 We all get it, our work environment can be fast paced, it may be hot and it may be cold. We may have production numbers we’re responsible for hitting, our pay may even be based on quantities and those numbers. Even in a slower paced environment we can find that talk is cheap, sometimes people like to gossip amongst themselves and in their little groups.  

But we know ourselves and yes, we are responsible for our own actions! Here are a few tips I’ve been given over the years.  

It may seem like we’re backing down or whatever you want to call it. It’s really using common sense and not letting a 2- or 3-minute confrontation define us for the rest of our lives. And I mean a possibility to properly provide for ourselves and our families for the rest of our lives. 

 For some reason reporting such events seem to bother us. Its not ratting out someone or telling on them. Its part of the responsibilities we carry with us in the workplace.   

Workplace violence is not just a momentary lapse in judgment—it’s an action that can have severe, long-lasting consequences. From damaging your career and personal life to facing legal ramifications, the cost is far too high. But these situations can be avoided. By understanding your triggers, managing your anger, and using de-escalation techniques, you can protect your future. And remember, if you witness or experience bullying or violence, reporting it is our responsibility to maintaining a safe work environment for the entire team. 

In the end, we all have a choice. We can let anger take control, or we can choose to walk away and keep our careers, our families, and our futures intact. Let’s choose to get along, let’s choose safety, and let’s make sure that our workplaces are environments where everyone feels respected and protected. 

We’ll I think we’ll end on that point! I’d like to hear any thoughts you may have on todays topic. Email me, [email protected] and share those thoughts!  

Until next week, let’s all have fun, be productive, and be safe at it!