People who are most likely to commit workplace violence include:
- Recently fired employees or those with the perception that he/she soon will be fired or laid off
- The employee who feels that he/she is not being heard
- The person involved in separation, adultery, divorce or child custody
- People who believe they have no voice about changes in their job
- People with romantic or sexual obsessions
- People (employees or others, i.e.: visitors) who have exhibited bizarre behaviors
- People who have made threats or have intimidated others
- People who have exhibited angry outbursts
- Employees with a history of interpersonal conflict with coworkers or supervisors
- People that often have a sense of persecution/injustice
- People with a history of past violence
- People who report a past history of violence by family members, especially if they can justify past violent behaviors
- People who have exhibited major behavioral changes
- People with a past history of alcohol or other drug abuse and/or psychiatric problems
- Employees that cannot take criticism and show contempt for the company and the boss
- People involved in stalking behavior or discussing stalking as a good thing
- People that exhibit feelings of desperation, such as divestment of valued property or other indicators of impending suicide
An additional factor is gender. A number of studies reveal that males ages, 30 to 48 account for most workplace violence. It is estimated that perpetrators are males 85% to 95% of the time and females only 5% to 15% of the time.
Source: First Sun EAP