Workplace Violence Top Concern for Employers in 2000

April 20, 2000
Workplace violence was rated the most significant security concern for U.S. businesses, according a survey of Fortune 1000 companies conducted by Pinkertons Inc.

Workplace violence was rated the most significant security concern for U.S. businesses for the second year in a row, according a survey of Fortune 1000 companies conducted by Pinkertons Inc.

"Top Security Threats and Security Issues Facing Corporate America," released earlier this month, found that while workplace violence was ranked as the top corporate security concern in the 1999 survey, this topic received a higher average importance rating this year.

Quoting figures complied by the Workplace Violence Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice, Pinkertons said workplace violence costs employers $36 billion annually, results in three deaths daily, and causes thousands of injuries each year.

The companies that labeled workplace violence as the top security threat included manufacturers, business-service companies and utility companies, according to the survey.

Despite workplace violence concerns, approximately 20 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies surveyed said that they do not consistently perform criminal-record checks on job applicants.

Forty percent of respondents, however, anticipate increased funding for security programs, while half expect that their safety budgets will be unaffected over the next several years.

The trend signals a management commitment to corporate security which is vital to maintaining the overall health of the organization, the study said.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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