The residents of the United States have traditionally felt quite safe from threats of violence present in so many other countries, such as terrorism or violence in the streets. One particularly safe place has been the workplace. In fact, deterioration of some living areas, and increasing threats of violence, has often meant that workers who live in such areas come to work partly for safety. This is, unfortunately, changing. Not only did the bombing of the World Trade Center or the Federal Building in Oklahoma City happen, but as Personnel Journal reports, the United States Justice Department recently issued a report stating that the workplace is among the most dangerous places to be, and an average of 15 people are killed on the job each week. This paper addresses the issue of workplace violence. Whether there is a serious crisis of violence in the workplace in the United States is discussed including possible types of incidences, victims and perpetrators, and reasons. The incidents are broken down into three categories (Type I--perpetrator has no relationship to the workplace; Type II--the assailant is the recipient or the object of service provided by the affected workplace of the victim; Type III--the perpetrator has an employment-related involvement with the workplace). Secondly, the causes (risk factors, personal experiences, or emotional stability) and consequences (direct costs, legal expenses, and indirect economic costs to consumers) of violence in the workplace are studied. The author concludes with several solutions to this problem (open communications, employee empowerment, outplacement services, counseling, proper training, development of a crisis plan, etc.).