Since 2024, most California employers have been required to have a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, train employees on it, and keep a log of violent incidents. If that requirement slipped past you, you're not alone. A lot of small and mid-sized employers assume this only applies to hospitals, retail, or security firms. In reality, it applies to nearly every employer in the state, office environments included.
The plan itself doesn't need to be complicated, but it does need to be real: a document that sits in a drawer isn't compliance, and it won't help anyone if something actually happens. What matters is that employees know how to report a concern, that someone is responsible for follow-up, and that the plan reflects how your workplace actually operates.
What you can do
Confirm you have a written plan, and that it's been shared with employees, not just written and filed away.
Schedule (or refresh) training so employees know what to do if they witness or experience a threatening situation.
Set up a simple incident log and revisit your plan at least once a year, or after any real incident, near-miss, or change in your workplace.
Need help applying this to your workplace?
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