Nonfatal workplace violence risk factors: Data from a police contact sample

A total of 281 cases investigated by a Midwestern law enforcement agency were analyzed to identify risk factors relevant to liability. Two sets of multivariate analyses were performed to assess the role of external (i.e., nonemployees) as well as internal threats (i.e., coworkers or domestic violence). Discriminant analysis indicates that assaults stemming from persons external to the workplace are more likely to affect male staff members, be particularly related to customer service concerns, involve prior threats, and involve increased risk related to perpetrators' prior criminal histories. Regarding assaults perpetrated by people internal to the workplace, discriminant analysis indicates the significance of the perpetrator-victim relationship as well as relevant incident-related variables (i e., prior threatening behavior, presence of weapons, and presence of witnesses). The relevant policy and legal implications of the findings are discussed in detail.