California Manager Workplace Violence Training [Video Kit]

This is the “Manager” version.….If you are looking for the “employee” or non-Manager version of this training, that can be found here:

California EMPLOYEE Workplace Violence Training.

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California Senate Bill 553 doesn’t just require a workplace violence prevention plan — it requires managers and supervisors to lead it.

That’s a meaningful distinction. Frontline employees need to know what to do if violence occurs. But supervisors need to recognize when it’s coming, understand what the law requires of them specifically, and be able to build and maintain a compliant written program. SB 553 puts that responsibility squarely on leadership.

This training program is built for that audience. It walks supervisors through their legal obligations under California’s workplace violence prevention law, the warning signs that precede violent incidents, how to handle aggressive behavior before it escalates, and how to develop a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan that satisfies both SB 553 and Cal OSHA requirements.

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WHAT MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS WILL LEARN

• Understand California Senate Bill 553 and what it legally requires of employers, managers, and supervisors
• Identify the categories of workplace violence — including outside threats, commercial crime, and employee-on-employee conflict — and understand which workers are at highest risk
• Recognize behavioral warning signs that may indicate an employee is at risk of committing a violent act
• Distinguish between veiled, conditional, and direct threats — and understand why verbal and emotional aggression carries the same weight as physical violence under the law
• Establish and communicate reporting procedures so employees can flag aggressive behavior without fear of retaliation
• De-escalate active conflicts between employees and manage confrontations without physical engagement
• Respond appropriately to extreme scenarios including armed assailants and active shooter situations
• Develop, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan that complies with SB 553 and Cal OSHA’s published guidelines
• Understand recordkeeping requirements, including violent incident logs and training documentation

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COURSE TOPICS

Defining Workplace Violence The training establishes a working definition that goes beyond physical assault. Violence includes verbal threats, intimidation, sexual harassment, and psychological abuse — and supervisors are expected to treat each of these with equal seriousness. The program identifies the main sources of workplace violence: outside threats from customers, vendors, or members of the public; commercial crime including robbery; and internal conflicts between employees. Understanding the full scope of what counts as violence is the starting point for any prevention effort.

Warning Signs and Hazard Identification SB 553 requires companies to have a system for identifying conditions and situations that could lead to workplace violence — and supervisors are responsible for making that system work. This section covers the behavioral warning signs that often precede violent incidents: sudden mood swings, defensiveness, frequent complaints, fixation on other violent incidents, increased absenteeism, and on-the-job carelessness. The training emphasizes that warning signs don’t guarantee future violence, but they establish the pattern supervisors need to monitor.

Types of Aggressive Behavior Before an incident turns physical, it typically surfaces as aggression. The program breaks down the three categories of threats — veiled, conditional, and direct — and covers verbal abuse and sexual harassment as forms of aggressive behavior that require the same documented response. Supervisors also receive guidance on avoiding actions that could themselves be perceived as harassment, given the power dynamic inherent in leadership roles.

Reporting Procedures and Incident Logging SB 553 requires written procedures for employees to report aggressive behavior and violent incidents. This section explains how to establish those channels — including anonymous hotlines and employee assistance programs — and what a compliant violent incident log looks like. The training reinforces that supervisors must take all reports seriously and that local law enforcement must be notified of any incident involving threats or physical assault. California requires violent incident logs to be retained for a minimum of five years and training records for at least one year.

De-escalation and Conflict Response When conflict is already in motion, supervisors need practical tools. The training covers how to intervene in disputes between employees, how to remain non-threatening in a direct confrontation, and when to disengage rather than attempt resolution. Key principles include maintaining physical distance, keeping a calm tone, avoiding arguments, and never engaging physically unless personal safety is at immediate risk.

Armed Assailants and Active Shooter Protocols High-severity incidents require a specific response plan — and improvising is not a viable strategy. The program walks supervisors through the appropriate response when a weapon is present: prioritize evacuation, avoid direct confrontation, assist others to safety when possible, and contact law enforcement only when it can be done safely. If direct contact with an armed assailant is unavoidable, the training covers how to comply in a way that minimizes the risk of escalation.

Building a Compliant Workplace Violence Prevention Plan This is the core compliance section of the program. The training follows the structure of Cal OSHA’s sample Workplace Violence Prevention Plan and covers all required elements: management leadership and employee participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, emergency response procedures, education and training requirements, and recordkeeping. Supervisors learn what must be documented, who must have access to the plan, and how to involve employees in its development — a requirement under SB 553, not just a best practice.

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WHY THIS TRAINING MATTERS

California SB 553, which took effect in 2024, created some of the most specific workplace violence prevention obligations in the country. Employers that fail to develop and implement a compliant written plan — or that fail to provide annual training — face Cal OSHA citations and the liability exposure that follows any uninvestigated or undocumented violent incident. Supervisors who haven’t been formally trained on their responsibilities are a compliance gap. This program closes it.

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WHO NEEDS THIS TRAINING

Managers and supervisors with direct reports in California workplaces, including those in:

• Retail and customer-facing environments
• Healthcare and social services
• Manufacturing and warehouse operations
• Hospitality and food service
• Corporate and office settings
• Any California employer subject to SB 553

Available in either English or Spanish, and on either USB stick or DVD, this important training for managers on workplace violence will help you fulfill your California training requirements.

This Complete California Manager Workplace Violence Training Program Includes These Items:

Full-Length Video Preview of the Workplace Violence Training for California Managers: