Workplace Violence - 8 Tips For Spotting Early Warning Signs

One of the greatest threats facing both employees and the companies they work for, is workplace violence. It has become the leading cause of death for women and the second leading for men, following closely behind motor vehicle accidents. In fact, the best estimates now being reported show that 1-in-4 employees will be the victim of workplace violence this year alone.

While the media is quick to highlight the most deadly attacks that occur, the fact is that most employees will be lucky enough to only suffer from simple assaults. However, this is not to downplay the almost 400,000 aggravated assaults, 51,000 rapes and sexual assaults, 84,000 robberies, and nearly 1,000 homicides reported each year. I simply want to acknowledge that the average employee will not have to worry about death so much as being intimidated, struck, or threatened to comply with the assailant either through force or the threat of violence.

Spotting Early Earning Signs

As with all self-defense situations, correct action requires proper understanding so that we can know where to direct our awareness. Knowing what to look for will allow us to notice when something may be brewing and thereby allow us to take preemptive measures to prevent the danger from ever manifesting at all. After all, the ultimate goal of any reality-based protection program should be to set things up so that danger never touches you at all.

Workplace violence situations can be seen to have three aspects or characteristics that work together to produce the damage that inevitably results. Assaults always stem from a causal-based conditioning and never "come out of nowhere." These three parts or aspects are:

1. The assailant or perpetrator of the assault,

2. The preexisting or conditioning factors that cause the assailant to see violence as a justifiable means for attaining their goals, and...

3. An environment that allows for or permits the violent act to be committed without intervention, deterrence, or resistance.

Assaults never happen in a vacuum. They, like everything else, are the products of cause and effect. And, once set into motion - once these three factors are present - the force or conditions will play themselves out sooner or later.

In her book, "Risky Business: Managing Employee Violence in the Workplace", Dr. Lynne McClure describes eight categories of high-risk behaviors that may indicate the need for management intervention. She says these high-risk behaviors are everyday behaviors that occur in certain patterns. While the following clues are just that, possible warning signs, they will give management and employees enough of a basic understanding to cue in on the possibility of danger brewing on the horizon. The warning signs that may signal an impending workplace violence issue include:

• Actor behaviors: The employee acts out his or her anger with such actions as yelling, shouting, slamming doors, and so on.

• Fragmentor behaviors: The employee takes no responsibility for his actions and sees no connection between what he does and the consequences or results of his actions. As an example, he blames others for his mistakes.

• Me-First behaviors: The employee does what she wants, regardless of the negative effects on others. As an example, the employee takes a break during a last minute rush to get product to a customer, while all other employees are working hard.

• Mixed-Messenger behaviors: The employee talks positively but behaves negatively. As an example, the employee acts in a passive-aggressive manner saying he is a team player, but refuses to share information.

• Wooden-Stick behaviors: The employee is rigid, inflexible, and controlling. She won't try new technology, wants to be in charge, or purposefully withholds information.

• Escape-Artist behaviors: The employee deals with stress by lying and/or taking part in addictive behaviors such as drugs or gambling.

• Shocker behaviors: The employee suddenly acts in ways that are out of character and/or inherently extreme. For instance, a usually reliable individual fails to show up or call in sick for work. A person exhibits a new attendance pattern.

• Stranger behaviors: The employee is remote, has poor social skills, becomes fixated on an idea and/or an individual.

It can no longer be seen as a luxury or add-on to include procedures and training for dealing with workplace violence in your company's health and safety system. The costs, financially as-well-as to productivity, employee stress, and more, are far too great. Understanding and awareness are always the first step in to developing an effective plan. But, a solid, intelligently throughout and administered plan includes procedures, strategies, and techniques for, not only prevention and intervention, but deterrence and defensive action as well. The safer employees feel at all levels of an organization, the more relaxed the atmosphere and the greater the productivity.

Remember: Safety and protection is not a choice. It's a responsibility!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and director of Warrior Concepts International, a company which focuses on teaching effective self-protection and personal development techniques to individuals, groups and companies. He is the author of the "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" eCourse and can be reached through his website: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com. Additional information about workplace violence can be found here.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:51:10 GMT Obama Gains in States Such as Iowa, Florida Give National Boost - Bloomberg BBC News Obama Gains in States Such as Iowa, Florida Give National Boost Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By James Rowley and Kristin Jensen Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is moving ahead in a series of new polls from Florida to Iowa, gains that are helping him maintain a national lead over Republican John McCain. Video: Kids Vote On Campaign '08 CBS Newsday poll: Obama has double-digit lead on Long Island Newsday Orlando Sentinel - New York Times - Reuters - Detroit Free Press all 2,708 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:51:54 GMT Spotlight on Apple notebooks: 1989 to 2008 - CNNMoney.com Washington Post Spotlight on Apple notebooks: 1989 to 2008 CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Apple will unveil the latest addition to a long line of portable computers that dates back nearly 20 years - to the ungainly, 15.8-pound “Macintosh Portableâ€� that PC World named the 17th worst technology product of all time. This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz Ars Technica Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Washington Post New York Times - eFluxMedia - CRN - Wall Street Journal all 185 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:23:15 GMT US-POLITICS Summary - Washington Post USA Today US-POLITICS Summary Washington Post - 2 hours ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 6-point lead over Republican rival John McCain in the US presidential race, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday. John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics Los Angeles Times Pittsburgh Paper Picks Obama, Pans on McCain/Palin Ticket FOXNews Dallas Morning News - Seattle Times - KXMC - San Francisco Chronicle all 1,680 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:22:18 GMT Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report - Reuters Reuters Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report Reuters - Oct 11, 2008 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's only child, gave birth to twin baby girls on October 7, celebrity news TV show "Entertainment Tonight" said on its website on Saturday. Twin girls for Lisa Marie Presley BBC News Lisa Marie Presley Welcomes Twin Girls E! Online eFluxMedia - People Magazine - Associated Content - USA Today all 652 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:17:01 GMT Texas new No. 1 in coaches poll after wild college football weekend - USA Today News 8 Austin Texas new No. 1 in coaches poll after wild college football weekend USA Today - 32 minutes ago By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY The date won't quite live in infamy, but college football followers should remember Oct. 11, 2008, for a long time. Kansas fails to move up in polls KUsports Texas grabs top ranking in AP Poll Louisville Courier-Journal The Huntsville Times - al.com - Austin American-Statesman - The Birmingham News - al.com - Nittany Lines all 13 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:18:35 GMT Stem cell promises, obstacles remain four years after bill's approval - San Jose Mercury News Stem cell promises, obstacles remain four years after bill's approval San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago EDITOR'S NOTE: This is first of a two-part series examining the progress and potential pitfalls in California's $3 billion stem cell research program. Researchers find easier way to make stem cells Reuters India New method generates stem cells safely from mice Reuters Chicago Tribune - Bloomberg - Houston Chronicle - The Daily Yomiuri all 68 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:34:39 GMT "Chihuahua" bites Crowe, DiCaprio at box office - Reuters "Chihuahua" bites Crowe, DiCaprio at box office Reuters - 1 hour ago LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new terrorism thriller "Body of Lies" failed to take the top spot at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, becoming the latest victim of moviegoer aversion to movies dealing with Middle East intrigue. 'Chihuahua' still has bite in second weekend at box office USA Today ‘Body’ Talk, Baby Talk Business Mirror Fort Wayne Journal Gazette all 21 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:19:10 GMT Automated Blog and Ping Add RSS Feeds to My Website

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

20 Powerful Tips For Advancing Your Career

You don't want to stay in your current position forever...... Read More

Career Killers to Avoid

Many professionals and managers are so involved in day-to-day crises... Read More

So You Want To Be a Nurse When You Grow Up?

You're interested in becoming a nurse. How do you get... Read More

Do Your Very Best in All Things -- Because Someone Is Looking....

Your job is to rise ABOVE the challenge. Do more... Read More

Work Attitude Ethics For Progress

This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings,... Read More

Your Job Search -- a Marketing Campaign?

The successful job search is really just a personal marketing... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

Seven Myths You Must Challenge Now To Begin Your Second Career Today

* Has it been awhile since you explored career options?*... Read More

Doing What You Love

What do you want to be when you grow up?... Read More

Why Are 95% of Job Applicants Not Called Back?

Have you been desperately looking for a job and keep... Read More

Youre Fired Isnt The Finale

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, March 2004 had... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Containing Anxiety

It hangs from the ceiling above your bed while you... Read More

8 Steps to Getting On-Track When You Start a New Job

Starting a new job can feel like moving to a... Read More

From Bumbling Bosses to Cranky Co-Workers ? How to Overcome What Makes You Hate Your Job

I'll be the first to admit that I hated my... Read More

Sample Resume Objectives: What They All Tend To Miss

Sample resume objectives. When a harried and possibly panicked job... Read More

Is Job Loss Making You Sick?

Job loss affects most of us like any other loss... Read More

Preventing The Runaway Candidate

Municipal and law enforcement officials in Georgia are still calculating... Read More

I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids?

One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More

How to Change Careers and Still Pay the Bills - 5 Key Steps

Studies show that more than 50% of people are unhappy... Read More

You Are Not Entitled to a Job!

Résumé TipsSome basics about job hunting...First of all, nobody owes... Read More

Dissatisfied with Your Job? Take Your Power Back!

Apparently, there are all sorts of reasons to be dissatisfied... Read More

Looking the Part

I don't know his name and he wasn't trying to... Read More

How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top

Many people would love to get a better job. And... Read More

Ask For That Raise!

For nine years Jeff worked for company G as an... Read More

If Youre Fired, Will Past Employers Keep Your Secret?

Despite what some job seekers think, it is not illegal... Read More