MEGA TOOL CO., LTD has supplied professional industrial tool products since 1978 to our customers. While we believe that the quality, utility, and cost of our products are the most important factors for customers in making a purchase and in reordering, it is principally in the area of workplace safety in industrial settings that legal knowledge can be most important. Take the ‘stand your ground’ law concept that some states follow. Virginia is among these. In general terms, a person who is attacked in public may use reasonable physical force to defend themselves against an attack under the law. Should a person feel threatened in any way, they may consider using physical force to deflect this perceived threat. This would include acts of obstruction by force, fighting, and infliction of bodily injury. How does this apply in the context of workplace settings? As stated in an article here, the basic Virginia Stand Your Ground Law facts are as follows: “Virginia law allows anyone who believes that physical force is necessary to protect themselves shall not retreat and may use reasonable force provided that they are not the initial aggressor. The ‘Stand Your Ground Law’ in Virginia approves self-defense if you have absolutely no reasonable means to escape an altercation or to seek legal protection.”

The take away for businesses here is that they can make business decisions on how to protect both their employees and their corporate property. Managers can safely make decisions from taking a stand on behalf of the business to seeking protection through legal procedures rather than confrontation with physical force. This ‘knowledge’ educates managers on how to instruct employees on healthy actions in potentially violent situations. A manager can send around an email that explains the self-defense laws, how they are applied, and their basic significance. There will be employees who read it and choose to better avoid confrontation. However, there may be other employees who will feel empowered to confront others at any opportunity. This is not an endorsement of the law, merely an observation of how it may be utilized in real life. With the above in mind, it would be wise to draft a workplace policy that is based upon the businesses’ goals and objectives. For a business, its objective ought to be the safety of its employees. This can be done with two key tactics: 1.) Define and describe acceptable and unacceptable actions for dealing with conflict. Explain how the company should be viewed from a legal perspective and how a dispute may be harmful to the company. Include the does virginia have a stand your ground law as a potential legal recourse for employees. Note, that this is not legal advice, and it is necessary to seek legal counsel for specific legal recommendations. 2.) Explain how the company’s policies and procedures can help protect employees from harm. If their safety is in jeopardy, explain why the company may choose to stand its ground. Explain how seeking out protection through legal means can benefit. If prescribed correctly, this adds to the company’s culture that empowers employees to take action when necessary and to seek protection if needed. It also sets into place expectations and guidelines that shape how an employee will respond when they find themselves in a conflict with another individual.

A positive culture is a powerful tool for the company. Positive company culture results in profitable customers, retention, profitability, and cost savings. As previously stated, with the proper knowledge of laws and how to properly implement that knowledge, a company can benefit from being proactive in implementing laws in the workplace. Explaining the laws will aid and encourage employees to determine for themselves what is right and wrong, sensible and nonsensical, and help empower appropriate judgements that can prevent physical altercations that can otherwise result in liability for the company. Regardless of the company’s preferences and goals, knowledge of laws regarding workplace safety can benefit the company. It can empower employees to take action when needed, and serve as a warning of what not to do in potentially dangerous situations. Integrating education into a company’s objectives enhances overall workplace safety and prevents the company from potentially facing liability.

For more information on self-defense laws, you can visit Wikipedia.