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Training, zero tolerance can prevent aggression
An increase in on-the-job tension stemming from rising layoffs and crashing retirement accounts is fueling an increase in workplace violence, experts warn.
While this trend is bad news for employers, experts say the good news is that through training and adhering to a zero-tolerance policy, many acts of workplace violence, if not most, can be prevented.
"I don't think there is any question we are in a much more volatile time now than even as recently as five years ago," said Lawrence Howe, training coordinator for security consulting firm Violence Prevention International in San Diego and retired corporate security director at Science Application International Corp.
Job cuts, slashing of retirement accounts and the fear of future layoffs all contribute to rising tension in the workplace. And more tension means greater chance of violence, experts say.
"Behavior is becoming mote aggressive," said Gary Salmans, senior vp at Marsh Inc. in Detroit.
A recent example of workplace violence was the April 8 deadly shooting of Dr. Brian McGovern at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston by a co-worker, who then committed suicide.
And in Indianapolis last month, a manager of a Boston Market restaurant, Leslie Dickerson, was killed by a fellow employee after the restaurant closed. Allegedly, Ms. Dickerson had refused the employee's sexual advances.
More common, however, are threats, stalking and harassment at work, often by e-mail, said James Madero, president of Violence Prevention International.
Employers can take solace in two pieces of positive news. There has been a marked decrease in homicides...