Avoiding Workplace Violence
HRACC
July 23, 2014
Tom O’Connor
• Violent acts, the threat of violent acts, and acts of
intimidation against employees or company property and
resources.
What is Workplace
Violence
• 2 million incidents of workplace violence annually
• Fourth leading cause of all workplace deaths, leading
cause of death for women in the workplace.
• 506 workplace deaths in 2010 (declining)
• Majority of deaths instigated by strangers, 19% in law
enforcement, 13% retail, 10% medical operations.
• Co-worker violence is about 5%
U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA/CDC
Scope of the Problem
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Contact with/access to the public
Readily available escape routes
Exchange of money
Mobile workplace (delivery, police, taxi)
Contact with unstable or volatile persons
Working alone or small numbers
Working in high crime areas
Selling/holding/guarding high value items
Risk Factors for
Workplace Homicide
Beyond the obvious victim(s):
• Impact on company reputation
• Impact on productivity
• Lower morale/Increased turnover
• Diminished job satisfaction
• Litigation
• Property damage
• Injury costs
Impacts
Early Signals
(as much a performance issue as an early warning WPV
concern)
• New/increased stress at work/home
• Memory problems
• Deterioration of grooming habits
• Greater use of alcohol
• Use of prohibited substances
• Expressions of anxiety
Employee Warning Signs
Early Signals (cont.)
• Lack of concern for others
• Exhibiting unsafe behaviors
• Productivity and/or attendance issues
• Increasingly taking up supervisors time with behavior or
performance issues
• Pushing rules to the limit
Employee Warning Signs
Yellow Flags
• Changes in personality or behavior
• Irrational beliefs and/or ideas, paranoia
• Fascination with weaponry, acts of violence, or fringe
groups
• Displays of unwarranted anger
• Chronically disgruntled
• Changes in productivity levels
Employee Warning Signs
Yellow Flags
• Inability to take criticism/externalizing blame/inflexible
positions
• Verbalizing feelings of being mistreated
• Depression
• Growing despondency
• Specifically talking about causing harm
• Conflicts
Employee Warning Signs
Red Flags
• Verbal threats/intimidation
• Drastic changes in behavior
• Intensifying ongoing conflict
• Displays of rage
• Displays of contempt for authority
Employee Warning Signs
Red Flags
• Violence toward inanimate objects
• Fear reactions among co-workers
• Expression of a plan to harm self or others
• Sabotage of project or equipment
Employee Warning Signs
Domestic Violence
• No close friends
• Obvious physical injuries
• Has many “accidents”
• Checks with partner constantly
• Withdraws from social activity
• Wears heavy make-up, dark glasses
Employee Warning Signs
Domestic Violence
• Frequent absenteeism
• Frequent tardiness
• Increased error rate at job tasks
• Depression
• Regularly gets flowers/gifts at work
Warning Signs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Change in work status
Unfavorable dispute resolution
Unrealized promotion
Downsizing/consolidation
Personal problems
Legal problems
Financial crisis
Health problems
Possible Triggers
9-Step
Prevention Program Overview
After Incident Review
Investigation/Intervention Procedures
Reporting Procedures
Training
Risk Assessment
Policy Development/Communications
Supervisory & Employee Involvement
Crisis Team
Management Commitment
Management Commitment
• Communicated commitment by senior management
• Use the Golden Rule of Management
• Commit needed resources
• Provide motivation
Prevention Program Overview
Crisis Team
• Establish procedures for evaluating/ investigating individual cases.
• Designate/train individuals to address incidents.
• Provide services.
• Empower team to act.
Prevention Program Overview
Crisis Team
• Create a cross-disciplinary team.
• Review key documents.
• Train team in response objectives.
• Establish liaisons with outside resources.
Prevention Program Overview
Supervisory/Employee Involvement
• Coordinate efforts
• Participate in Crisis Team
• Report concerns
• Enforce policies
Prevention Program Overview
Policy Development/Communications
• Adopt a zero tolerance policy.
• Communicate the policy.
• Post policy prominently.
• Conduct drug/background screening.
• Conduct interviews/exit interviews.
• Establish termination procedures.
Prevention Program Overview
Risk Assessment
• Conduct a full review of the workplace safety and
security risks.
• Conduct periodic inspections.
• Identify hazards.
• Track and analyze incidents.
• Interview employees
Prevention Program Overview
• Physical barriers
• Alarm systems/panic
buttons
• Natural surveillance
• Bright effective lighting
• Adequate staffing
• Eliminate entrapment
areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Restrictive “visitor” policy
Cash-handling controls
Emergency procedures
Training
CCTV
Access controls/ID cards
Employee escorts
Safe rooms
Engineering/Administrative Controls
Training
• All employees, supervisors, managers
• Awareness of potential hazards
• Recognition of trouble signs
• How to intervene
• Schedule periodic training/policy reviews
• Document training
Prevention Program Overview
Reporting Procedures
• All incidents no matter how small
• Hotline reporting
• No reprisals
• Confidentiality
• Documentation
Prevention Program Overview
Investigation/Intervention
• Investigate all incidents.
• Determine all facts.
• Decide appropriate intervention.
• Follow set procedure for level of incident.
Prevention Program Overview
After Incident Review
• Review program after an incident.
• Review/revise with all stakeholders.
• Communicate revisions to employees.
Prevention Program Overview
• Video- City of Houston “Run, Hide, Fight”
• http://www.readyhoustontx.gov/videos.html
How to Survive a
Violent Incident
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assist victims, families, and associates.
Provide counseling and interventions.
Conduct and/or cooperate with investigations.
Pay attention to public & business relations.
Activate business continuation plans.
Identify actions that can be taken (short term, medium
term, long term).
After a Significant Event
• How you manage counts!
• It is unrealistic to believe you can make your company
workplace violence-proof.
• It is also unrealistic to believe you can’t reduce your
exposure.
Conclusion