June 2007

VIRGINIA TECH: LESSONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

The horrific violence at Virginia Tech raises security issues for all workplaces. Says the risk manager for one business:

“I don’t know the first thing about providing security for a campus of 26,000, but I think that what happened there can serve as a reminder to us to look for the warning signs of an employee who might be prone to violence. Businesses should take this opportunity to review their policy on workplace violence and train employees to look for the signs and report them to HR or a designated manager.”

The good news: Employers are in a far better position than educational institutions to identify potential risks. There’s the expectation of hierarchy and discipline in the workplace, while expectations of privacy are more limited — which makes it easier to see risks.

Bear in mind that most workplace violence originates in the home. The workplace is often the only place that an abuser can find a spouse who has fled. Be especially sensitive to the need for providing employee security in these situations.