Work Place Violence and Threat of Violence

Violence in the workplace has many faces. Threats of sabotage, stalking of or by employees, sexual harassment, assaults by or of employees, physical disputes with supervisors, employees bringing weapons to work, spillover of domestic violence, etc. From a management perspective these issues can present serious concerns. How can violence be avoided? How can potentially violent persons be screened out in the hiring process? What policies and practices can be put in place that will reduce the risk of violence? What training do security and personnel departments require to effectively prevent and/or deal with violence in the workplace? What are the precursors to violence and how can the "red flags" be used to act in advance of violence. What is the best way to terminate a potentially violent employee while minimizing the risk of violence?

Forensic Behavioural Analysis can help the client address these issues in an effective way that will reduce the risk of violence as well as deal with it when it can not be prevented. An appropriate policy is only a piece of paper unless it is implemented in conjunction with training and an effective plan aimed at preventing and combatting violence. A carefully crafted policy and plan can also reduce the risk of civil liability by demonstrating a genuine effort to prevent violence in the workplace.