An estimated 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year, costing businesses billions of dollars per year in impaired productivity, employee turnover, security measures, and legal costs. More and more often, employers are being held liable for workplace violence incidents, resulting in significant jury verdicts and settlements. Most recently, a California helpdesk technician was awarded nearly $7.4 million in damages following a workplace violence incident where a coworker grabbed the plaintiff's neck and choked him.

According to the plaintiff, the coworker "regularly exhibited violent and dangerous work place temper tantrums." Specific examples provided by the plaintiff included the coworker "explod[ing] in anger over coffee," expressing anger about the plaintiff placing coke cans in the freezer, expressing anger towards the plaintiff for knocking his foot against the plaintiff's own chair, and yelling at the plaintiff for eating a piece of candy during a team meeting.