Workplace Risks and Threats
Engagement is arguably the single most telling indicator of workplace risk. When employees are more engaged, their satisfaction and commitment to the organisation rise. It may sound straightforward, yet employee engagement frequently acts as a barometer of the risk and threat present in a workplace. The more disengaged and disconnected staff become, the greater the likelihood that corners will be cut and lax working practices will take hold.
Common Workplace Risks and Threats
Unfortunately, a range of statistics points to widespread problems across many organisations, exposing businesses to a variety of risks and potential threats. Recent findings reveal an array of issues, from bullying through to fraud. Some of these include: Bullying: 1 in 6 employees affected by bullying (Nielsen et al., 2010), 15% of employees in the UK report experiencing bullying in last 3 years (CIPD, 2020). Harassment: 19% of women & 13% of men report experiencing harassment (Hango & Moyser, 2018). Toxicity: $223 billion in US - cost of toxicity in the workplace in turnover alone (SHRM, 2019), 1 in 10 organisations hired a person despite known red flag in background (ACFE, 2018). Fraud: Yearly global fraud approx. 7.1 billion (ACFE, 2018), 70% of corruption perpetrated by those in positions of authority (ACFE, 2018). Disengagement and Distrust: Actively disengaged employees cost organisations $450-550 billion every year in lost productivity, about 34% of each employee’s salary (Gallup, Forbes, 2020), Trusted workplaces show 50% more productivity and 13% fewer sick days (Gallup, 2020).
Corporate Offenders
In reality, most detected corporate crime sits within the ‘amateur’ category — frequently disorganised, with weak attempts at cover-up. The ‘sophisticated’ offender displays greater forensic awareness and can sustain the fraud or deceit for longer before being detected. Finally, those committing complex, large-scale corporate crime are classed as ‘untouchable’. They manage to dupe large numbers of people, with their character often beyond reproach or questioning. This ‘untouchable’ category of corporate crime has been exemplified by figures such as Bernie Madoff or, more recently, Elizabeth Holmes.
How Can We Help?
Our team can provide a range of services relating to workplace risks and threats. The services available include: An external threat review, Indirect personality assessment, Administration of workplace threat or violence tools for specific issues or conflict, Development of threat management policies and practices, Training relating to the identification of workplace threat, Conflict management plans, An independent ‘Lessons Learnt’ review following a workplace incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is employee engagement described as a marker of workplace risk?
Engagement acts as a barometer for the level of risk and threat within a workplace: the more disengaged and disconnected staff become, the more likely it is that corners will be cut and lax working practices will occur.
Understanding these risks is the first step towards managing them. Whether the concern is disengagement, bullying, harassment or fraud, an independent review can help you identify warning signs early and put proportionate safeguards in place before problems escalate.