When we think of violence in the workplace, most of us think of a disgruntled former employees or angry clients taking their ire out on an entity they feel has wronged them. But in reality, statistics show that most acts of workplace violence are domestic in nature.
The murder of Charlene King Tuesday at a Durham medical office where she worked allegedly at the hands of a former boyfriend is a prime example of why employers need to consider this issue as a very real security threat. Domestic violence puts not just the victim in danger, but everyone who works with that person. The key is knowing someone is at risk, and handling the situation accordingly. This is tricky at a time when people are desperately trying to hold onto their jobs in a faltering economy. It is difficult for victims to tell an employer they may be in danger. If they do, they risk being fired. But, if a company opens a dialogue about the issue and encourages people to come forward, there's a chance tragedies like this can be prevented.
King's death should be a reminder to us that domestic violence doesn't just happen behind closed doors. It puts us all at risk.
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