Violent incidents on the rise.

• Position: At workplaces

More than one-third of the 479 human resource professionals who responded to a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) have experienced violence in the workplace and the trend is expected to continue. Thirty-two percent indicated that one or more acts of violence had occurred in their workplaces since 1989 and more than 80% of those incidents had transpired since 1991. Also significant was the number reporting more than one altercation. Almost 54% said that between two and five acts of violence were committed in their workplaces in the last five years. "These results really confirm what we're hearing from our members," notes Michael R. Losey, president and CEO of SHRM. "Violence in the workplace is now a significant problem and it's getting worse, not better."

While 74.8% of the incidents were fistfights or other physical altercations, an alarming 17% were shootings. with one death reported as a result. About six percent of the violent incidents were sexual assaults and almost eight percent were stabbings.

About 54% of the violent acts were committed by an employee toward another employee, 13% by employee to supervisor, and seven percent by customers against employees. More than 80% of the violence was committed by males. Serious harm was reported to have occurred in 22% of the cases, and medical treatment was administered to 42% of those involved.

Personality...