Labor Laws

Negligent Supervision

Negligent supervision occurs when an employer does not provide enough supervision to ensure that employees comply with company rules and regulation. Employees have the right to file a negligent supervision claim if they are the target of violence or harassment on the job. When employers witness menacing conduct, they need to take the necessary steps to keep their employees out of harm's way.

In an extreme case of this nature, a terminated employee showed up on the grounds of his former employer and murdered two former coworkers. There certainly were signs that the man could be dangerous. On the day of termination, the man became enraged after hearing about his termination and supervisors were forced to call police to escort the man from the property. The media also reported that before the attack, the employee had mentioned to friends and family that coworkers treated him poorly. As a result, one must wonder whether the employer could have done more to stop this catastrophe and if the employer can be held liable for damages.

Circumstances such as those mentioned above suggest that employers need to put more effort into preventing workplace violence or conflicts. However, there are no federal laws compelling employers to implement programs to safeguard against events like this.