Code of Conduct is only as strong as leadership’s example
Ethics and Compliance
As headlines about workplace shootings, retail assaults, and growing public hostility dominate the news cycle, safety fears are reshaping how employees show up to work, how they engage with their roles and how secure they feel doing their jobs.
Traliant’s second annual 2025 Fear Factor Survey Report reveals a troubling rise in workplace violence:
- 30% of respondents said they’ve witnessed violence in the last five years (up from 25% in 2024).
- 15% of respondents said they’ve been directly targeted (up from 12% in 2024).
Conducted in June 2025, the online survey encompassed more than 1,000 US employed adults working in hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial/manufacturing, office/professional settings, and in other industries with 100+ employees.
Survey results also reflect an erosion of psychological safety at work, particularly among younger workers, who feel less confident in their ability to de-escalate tense situations. Just 60% of employees surveyed said they would report safety concerns without anonymity, suggesting a fear of retaliation.
Legal momentum meets employee expectations
While the legal landscape is shifting to address these realities — as seen in New York and California’s recent laws, OSHA requirements and healthcare industry regulations — 93% of those surveyed say they support workplace violence prevention laws across all states.
“The survey findings should serve as a wake-up call for organizations nationwide,” said Bailey Whitsitt, Compliance Counsel at Traliant. “Safety can’t be a check-the-box initiative — it must be a cultural priority. The path forward to reducing violent workplace incidents starts with training that equips employees not just to respond, but to recognize and prevent harm before it happens.”
When asked if their employers are doing enough to keep people safe, almost 90% of employees answered “no” in our survey. They said they want employers to do more to protect them at work, including:
- More visibility and access to emergency action plans and procedures (49%)
- A speak-up culture where reporting is encouraged (49%)
- In-person drills (42%) and online training (37%)
Employers have a golden opportunity to lead the way. A well-designed workplace violence training program equips employees with the skills, confidence, and awareness to defuse tense situations, prevent violence before it happens, and respond safely when it does. For example, de-escalation should be a key training focus ─ especially in the hospitality and retail segments where incidents of violence are highest. as well as addressing silent threats like the fear of retaliation. Training should also addressing silent threats like the fear of retaliation and how to respond to an active shooter situation.
Encouraging progress: Companies are taking action
Traliant’s Fear Factor survey found that more companies are taking action to prevent workplace violence:
- 85% of surveyed employees said their employer has a workplace violence prevention plan in place, compared to 76% in 2024.
- 75% of respondents have taken formal workplace violence prevention training — a 5% increase in training participation over the past year.
Still, employers can do more by delivering training that:
- Builds confidence, not just compliance. Give younger employees interactive, real-world scenarios that strengthen judgment and readiness.
- Targets industry-specific risks. Replace generic programs with training that reflects the unique challenges frontline workers face versus office staff.
- Creates psychological safety. Equip leaders to model openness, encourage reporting, and respond transparently so employees feel safe speaking up.
- Connects training to policy. Reinforce learning with clear prevention plans, reporting procedures, and consistent follow-through.
- Keeps skills sharp year-round. Use regular refreshers, in-person drills, and tech-enabled learning to make safety second nature.
