What does workplace violence refer to?

Workplace violence encompasses a broad range of behaviors that can occur in a work environment, making the definition quite comprehensive. It includes not just physical aggression, but also harassment, intimidation, and any threatening behavior that creates an unsafe or hostile atmosphere for employees. This understanding of workplace violence recognizes that it can manifest in various forms, including verbal threats, bullying, and any actions that may lead to emotional or psychological harm.

The other options do not capture the full scope of what workplace violence entails. Acts of aggression in personal settings, for instance, are outside the professional context and therefore not relevant. Defining workplace violence solely as physical aggression overlooks the significant impact of non-physical forms of harassment and aggression. Lastly, reducing workplace violence to merely disagreements between coworkers fails to consider the broader range of threatening behaviors that can create a toxic work environment. Thus, the correct understanding is that workplace violence is any act of aggression, harassment, or threatening behavior occurring within the workplace.