Clarity in Crisis: Aligning Workplace Violence Policies for Extreme Scenarios

For many organizations, an inconsistency exists in their policies and training programs. It can - and does - cause confusion, impair training effectiveness, and increase risk for the people you’re trying to help. Fortunately, it’s easy to address.

"As you prepare, think like an expert. As you speak, think like your audience."

A review of most workplace violence policies often reveals clear language prohibiting any form of violence. Terms like 'zero tolerance' frequently appear, and even activities like horseplay might be classified as violence.

How could this clarity create inconsistency? Let’s explore this as it relates to extreme violence, specifically active assailants.

A commonly used approach to “active shooter training” is to follow the direction of federal law enforcement and teach “Run. Hide. Fight.” Can you see the tension yet?

On one hand, your workplace violence policy, often accompanied by recurring training, states that violence is never allowed… zero tolerance. On the other hand, in the face of an active shooter, one life-saving response is to fight.

Now, I want to be clear. There’s no real conflict between these two directives. Workplace violence speaks to normal daily issues that we face. It addresses our interactions with each other and with our visitors, guests, and customers to promote safety. Whereas active shooter training speaks to a situation that is unlikely but life-threatening.

That should be clear, but should we assume everyone will see it as easily and clearly as we’ve discussed here? If you've been a leader or around training for much time, you know the answer to that question is an emphatic “NO!” It’s not that our audiences can’t figure things out. They can, but we shouldn’t leave it to the people we lead to navigate complexities on their own.

So, what’s the solution? It’s simple: acknowledge the apparent inconsistency and be clear about what you expect.

When revising your workplace violence policies, refer to extreme violence and what your policy allows. And, during active shooter training, reference your updated workplace violence policy and discuss when it's appropriate to “fight” in response to an active threat.

Aligning policies and expectations is an important part of effective leadership. In matters of safety, clarity can be a matter of life and death. As a leader or trainer, you’re expected to get it right.

Clarity matters. Our consulting services offer more than advice. We help clients effectively communicate safety-related messages to a wide range of audiences.

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