Challenges, conflicts and stress are inevitable at work, so are grievances and disappointments; violence is not. By Matthew Doherty May 04, 2021 Tangible and intangible costs are exceedingly high. By some estimates, workplace violence has an economic impact of, on average, more than $120 billion each year. According to OSHA, two million Americans are victims of workplace violence per year. Even the quickest and most decisive response to violence can’t necessarily stop what comes next: Absenteeism: A 10-year study found that employees exposed to workplace violence are nearly twice as likely to have health-related absences in the years following the incident. Employee turnover: Attrition spikes by as much as 10 percent immediately following a violent incident.