In a suburb of Oklahoma City, a man went back to work after being fired and beheaded a woman and then attacked another with a knife.
In the heart of Chicago’s financial district, a recently demoted man shot and wounded his company’s CEO before killing himself.
In suburban Chicago, a man walked into his air traffic control center in the early morning hours, started a fire and then proceeded to slit his own throat.
And the list goes one.
In all three situations, workplaces that seemed safe were quickly transformed into disturbing scenes of violence. So how can you avoid a similar scenario from happening in your office?
First, know the warning signs. Some of these include:
- An employee who seems increasingly sensitive, belligerent, or their behavior has changed noticeably in a negative way.
- An employee who intimidates or frightens others.
- An employee who is harassing, stalking, or showing undue focus on another person.
- An employee who engages in verbal abuse, including offensive, profane and vulgar language.
- An employee who makes threats (direct or indirect), whether in person or through letters, phone calls, or e-mail.
Also, follow these tips from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to help prevent violence at work:
- Create and disseminate a clear policy of zero tolerance for workplace violence, verbal and nonverbal threats and related actions. Make sure that managers, supervisors, coworkers, customers and visitors know about this policy.
- Make sure no employee who reports or experiences workplace violence faces reprisals.
- Encourage employees to promptly report incidents and suggest ways to reduce or eliminate risks. Require records of incidents to assess risk and measure progress.
- Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace. This includes establishing a liaison with law enforcement representatives and others who can help identify ways to prevent and mitigate workplace violence.
- Assign responsibility and authority for the program to individuals or teams with appropriate training and skills. Ensure that adequate resources are available for this effort and that the team or responsible individuals develop expertise on workplace violence prevention.
- Affirm management commitment to a worker-supportive environment that places as much importance on employee safety and health as on serving customers.
- Set up a company briefing as part of the initial effort to address issues such as preserving safety, supporting affected employees and facilitating recovery.
It’s hard to know what’s going on in the minds of your workers. But as a manager, it’s your job to keep an eye out for the warning signs and to act if you’re concerned about the safety of your employees.
Need more help dealing with HR challenges at work? Call Future Force. As one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, we’ve been providing local employers with efficient access to the area’s top talent. So if you’re ready for some professional help staffing your team, give Future Force a call.