Curbing Workplace Violence
About 2 million people are assaulted at their job sites each year nationwide. A look at the common early warning signs and tips on reducing the odds of a workplace attack:
WARNING SIGNS
The typical profile of a disgruntled employee is a middle-aged man who is a chronic complainer, is distrustful and rigid and blames others for his problems. Some common signals an employee may be close to losing control:
* Direct or veiled threats
* Carrying a concealed weapon or flashing a weapon to test other employees’ reactions
* Paranoid behavior
* Expression of desperation over recent family, financial or personal problems
* Extreme interest in semiautomatic weapons or automatic weapons and their destructive power
* Moral righteousness and the belief that the company is not following its rules and procedures
REDUCING RISK
Employers can take some steps to decrease the chance of workplace violence:
* Hire stable employees and contact all prior employers; if a performance or personality problem arises during the probation period, release the employee then
* Make sure new employees receive proper supervision, clear job performance specifications, internal grievance procedures and fair disciplinary actions
* Watch for employees with excessive absenteeism, angry outbursts, substance or alcohol abuse or chronic mood swings; always urge outside counseling for employees who are easily enraged
* Provide a positive work environment with adequate work space; reward employee achievements and contributions and do not require excessive overtime
* Report and investigate all threats immediately, even if the employee involved does not have a history of violence
Source: The Employers Group; Researched by APRIL JACKSON / Los Angeles Times
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