June 12, 2026

How businesses can prepare for and recover from workplace violence

Recognizing the risk of workplace violence and taking action is essential for all businesses. In part 1 of our workplace violence series, we covered types of workplace violence and how companies can help prevent it. But it’s important to recognize that these types of events could happen, regardless of prevention efforts.

In this article, we’re providing tips on preparing for and recovering from violent events.

Training is where policy becomes practice

Policies are only effective when they’re communicated, practiced and followed. When implementing a workplace violence policy, educate employees on their role, including how to report concerns and what to do in an emergency.

Train supervisors and employees to recognize warning signs, including:

• Dramatic behavior changes
• Explicit or veiled threats
• Harassment
• Fixation on weapons or violence

It’s also important to teach basic de escalation skills, especially for customer facing staff, so employees can calmly respond to angry customers, patients or members of the public.

For higher risk settings or larger operations, consider scenario based training or partnering with external experts in workplace violence prevention and active threat response.

Plan for emergencies before they happen

Even with strong prevention, businesses need a clear plan. Emergency response programs should include the following items:

• Emergency action plan (EAP): Your EAP should contain written procedures for different types of events (physical assault, armed intruder, domestic violence incident on site, etc.). These plans should align with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and any local emergency responder guidelines.
• Simple response framework: Many organizations use “Run, Hide, Fight” or similar models to guide employee actions in an active threat situation.
• Drills and tabletop exercises: Regular practice helps employees respond more quickly and reduces panic in the event of an emergency.
• Communication protocol: Clearly define methods to alert employees, contact law enforcement and communicate with families or media as needed.

After any incident, organizations should conduct an after action review to identify lessons learned and update plans, policies and training programs accordingly.

Post incident support — protect your people

The impact of workplace violence is not over when the scene is secure. Employers can help reduce long term harm by:

• Providing prompt access to counseling or EAPs
• Offering flexible scheduling or leave for employees directly affected by violence or credible threats
• Communicating transparently about what happened, what is being done and what changes employees can expect going forward

Strong recovery support is both the right thing to do and a key factor in retaining employees and protecting the business after a traumatic event.

Find more workplace violence resources

Texas Mutual policyholders have exclusive access to our safety and employer resources catalog, including program templates, presentations and training resources. To access the free materials, log in to your Texas Mutual Online (TMO) account and select Safety.

We’re here to help you build a safer workplace and protect your employees. If you need help accessing resources or you have a safety question, contact us at safety@texasmutual.com or 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).