Workplace Violence Red Flags, Prediction and Prevention

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Every school shooting, workplace shooting and even the Navy Yard shooting could have been prevented if we crowdsourced our security. The fact is that when someone’s about to “go postal,” that person tells the world in many obvious ways. Organizations that do nothing and say it can’t happen to them are next in line when it comes to being unprepared.

In the workplace violence prevention program, you will learn the red flags that at-risk students and employees exhibit and know how to best educate and inform front-line employees, managers and supervisors. When you recognize what methods to use, you will create an observant and security-conscious company culture.

You Learn How To:

  • Identify resources to reduce workplace risks.
  • Conduct an overview of workplace hazards.
  • Develop a policy plan to reflect company culture.
  • Screen potential employees.
  • Decipher the best high and low-tech options.
  • Secure the worksite premises.
  • Incorporate non-violent means of de-escalating violence.
  • Respond to crises, including rape and domestic violence.
  • Identify the signals and characteristics of potential offenders.
  • Intervene to assist overly stressed employees.

Top 11 Workplace Violence Red Flags by Robert Siciliano ©

Studies of workplace violence have built enough data to psychologically profile someone who is most likely to commit a potential act of violence. Any one or combination of the following traits should be reason for concern.

  1. Unreasonable: They constantly make slighting references to others. They are never happy with what is going on. They are consistently unreasonable.
  2. Controlling: They consider themselves as being superior. They feel a need to constantly force their opinion on others. They have a compulsive need to control others.
  3. Paranoid: They think other employees are out to get them. They think there is a conspiracy to all functions of society. They are essentially paranoid.
  4. Power Freaks: They may own firearms and have interests in military, law enforcement or underground military groups.
  5. Irresponsible: They don’t take responsibility for any of their behaviors or faults or mistakes, it is always someone else’s fault.
  6. Litigious: They may take legal action against the company, constantly filing one grievance after another. They blow everything out of proportion.
  7. Angry: They have many hate and anger issues on and off the job, whether it is with co-workers, family, friends, or the government.
  8. Violent: They applaud certain violent acts portrayed in the media such as racial incidences, domestic violence, shooting sprees, executions, etc. They may have had trouble with the law, even just a minor incident.
  9. Vindictive: They make statements like “he will get his” or “what comes around goes around” or ” one of these days I’ll have my say”.
  10. Odd: They very well can be good at what they do, paying attention to the details, but lack people skills. Their presence makes others feel uneasy.
  11. Unhealthy: They might be experiencing sleep disorders, fatigue, sudden weight loss or gain, or other health related problems. They might be addicted to alcohol, prescription or street drugs.

Sometimes a combination of these traits including job loss is enough to lead to workplace violence. Further studies show that in addition to these traits, in days or weeks prior to a violent act, certain significant emotional events will push the employee over the edge.