Violence By a Business Partner Is Never OK

Chris,

My business partner lost it and threw a box at me. He missed but his anger scared me. Can we talk about some rules that can keep him from ever doing that again? 

Violence By a Business Partner Must Be Taken Seriously

This kind of call always disturbs me. Violence in the workplace must me taken seriously. If your business partner ever is violent, call 911 immediately. Yes, even if he missed. You want to document threats of or actual violence. You cannot predict if your partner’s violence will escalate to a more dangerous level in the future. Having a police report will help your case should it become necessary to remove your business partner.  

Think about the times we’ve read about a workplace shooting. Those stories often include details of prior warning signs. As a business owner, you have a responsibility to protect your employees, customers, and yourself. 

Rules Can Help But…

Rules can help and we can discuss rules for partners’ behavior, but don’t we already have rules in place? The law protects us from violent people, but the law can only protect you if you report the violence or threat. As a mediator, I take abuse very seriously and I will insist on reporting dangerous behavior.

  “If your business partner is physically or verbally abusive, it must be dealt with. Call me if you need support and advice on how to protect yourself.” — Chris Reich