Preventing and Managing Workplace Violence and other High-Risk Behaviors)

Transcription

1 Preventing and Managing Workplace Violence and other High-Risk Behaviors) NSCN Safety & Health Summit Dr. Marc McElhaney Critical Response Associates, LLC April 16, 2015

2 Workplace Violence The fastest growing form of homicide..has reached epidemic proportions - Centers for Disease Control

3 How Bad Is It? # 1 cause of workplace death for women 50% of companies report incidents last year The #1 security concern of U.S. Security Directors $121 Billion Annually 3-Fold Increase in Active Shooter Incidents (2014)

4 Corporate Obligations Increased recognition that WPV is a critical and preventable behavior-based Safety issue OSHA Requirements (OSHA 3148, 1998: Compliance Directive, September 8, 2011) Legal Implications Negligence Claims Increase in Legislations Emerging, Accepted Standards of Practice (i.e., ASIS/SHRM s Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention Standard, September, 2011)

5 Types of WPV (OSHA s Typologies) Type I - no existing relationship Type II business relationship Type III employment relationship Type IV intimate relationship* * 74% of abused women report that some of the abuse occurred while they were at work

6 The Costs Employee Safety: Injury & death Legal costs and damage claims Damage to employee morale Decreased efficiency Increased absences Diversion of resources Reduced productivity

7 The Costs The company s image and reputation, negative publicity Property damage Health care costs Workers compensation claims Security costs

8 What Do We Mean By Violence? definition example: any conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive or threatening working environment through unwelcome words, actions, or physical contact.

9 Workplace Violence Includes: Threats of violence Harassment/Verbal abuse/intimidation Disruptive behavior Vandalism/Sabotage Persistent pursuit/stalking Cyber-stalking & Threatening Communications Suicidal behavior Domestic violence

10 What is a Threat of Violence? It s most often not about those who make threats, but those who pose a threat due to observed high-risk behaviors. Definition of threat: conduct that.. generates a reasonable concern for safety from violence

11 Actually, It s Not Really About Violence It s Really About High-Risk Behaviors

12 What We ve Learned: Our Most Common Mistakes 1. Looking For The Profile

13 Mistake # 1 Looking for the Profile (And missing everything else)

14 The Profile There isn t one. (There s not even several)

15 Violence is not a trait, it is a process!

16 Primary Factors Influencing Risk Assessment 1. Personality characteristics 2. Emotional Status 3. Cognitive Factors 4. Situational and Social Factors a. Within work setting b. Outside work

17 It s Usually Not About Bad People It s About High-Risk Behaviors

18 1 Example: Bob, on a bad morning

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20 What We ve Learned: Our Most Common Mistakes 1. Looking For The Profile 2. Avoidance, Denials & Delays

21 Mistake #2 Avoidance, Denials, & Delays How did we let it get this far? Well, we don t really have anything in his file. But his performance appraisals have been great.

22 But Is Workplace Violence Preventable? What About the Employee Who Just Snaps? Isn t This Something That Just Happens?

23 Violence is not just an act, it is a process! (People Do Not Just Snap )

24 Example: Avoiding The Workplace Bully We didn t want to make him angry Well, that s just Joe That s just the way he is.

25 Example: Managers Not Attending To Aberrant Behaviors He hasn t been himself lately. He just gives everyone the creeps.

26 What We ve Learned: Our Most Common Mistakes 1. Looking For The Profile 2. Avoidance, Denials & Delays 3. Acting Too Hastily (i.e., terminations)

27 Mistake # 3 Acting Too Hastily (Safe Terminations) We just wanted to get him out the door. Most Violence Occurs: After adverse employment actions After an interactional event/conflict During times of extreme stress, pressure, uncertainty When managers take an action that is considered autocratic or inconsiderate of employees feelings

28 Safe Interventions: A 5-Step Process 1. Pause! 2. Confer 3. Assess 4. Control, Contain & Stabilize (Call A Time Out) 5. Plan!

29 Step 1 in High-Risk Terminations: PAUSE! We just want to make him go away. However, getting rid of him may not get rid of him. If a high-risk employee is about to encounter a high-risk event: hit the pause button! Most of your options to assess and manage risk end at termination

30 Mistake #4: Lack of Employees Support and Participation Do your Employees Know: Their Responsibilities What To Look For Who to Report How to Report (are there multiple avenues?) and do they trust you to do the right thing?

31 Common Employee Excuses We didn t want to make him angry. We just didn t take him seriously. I just didn t think it d do any good. (to report it) I didn t want to get in trouble. Well, he didn t actually make a threat. Heck, we were just playing around. I didn t know who to call.

32 [Although many had information...], no one had all the information and no one connected the dots. Report of the Virginia Tech review Panel August 2007

33 Mistake # 5 Not Having a Threat Response Process in Place Thinking that there are single, quick solutions: We ll just call the police. We can just refer him to the EAP. We can always get a Restraining Order.

34 Over-Relying on A Single Quick Solution Premature involvement of law enforcement Taking out restraining orders and other legal actions in haste Inappropriate reliance on mental health providers Inappropriate application of zero tolerance Considering WPV as solely a Security problem

35 It s Often Not About Quick Security Action It s About A Strategic Response, Based on the Identification and Assessment of High-Risk Behaviors

36 So What Is the Right Response? It depends. Each case is unique. good management is dependent on good assessment.

37 Threat Assessment and Response Planning Works Best Through Establishment of a (Trained) Interdisciplinary Response Team (utilizing a careful, inquisitive, creative, strategic, professional approach)

38 Your Greatest Obstacle to A Safe Workplace: It Can t/won t Happen Here!

39 Illustration: 3 Common Risk-Related Issues 1. Suicide 2. Mental Illness 3. Domestic Violence

40 The Suicidal Employee Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. (For every suicide, there are 11 attempts.) General Population: 13.5% report lifetime ideation and 4.6% an attempt. Suicide in the workplace increased 28% this past year (Dept. of Labor)

41 The Mentally Ill Employee Mental illness alone is not an indicator of violence, but some factors can significantly increase the likelihood of violence: Paranoia Fixed delusions Psychopathy Failure to establish relationships Extreme depression, with losses Substance abuse

42 Mental Illness in the U.S. U.S. Population diagnosed in any one year: All Mental Illness: 26% (5.8% severe) Mood Disorders: 9.5% (4.3% severe) Schizophrenia: 1.1% Antisocial Personality: 1% Alcohol/Drug Dependence: 9.7% Psychotic Experience (in lifetime): 1-3% Delusional Disorder: mean age of onset: 40-55

43 Domestic Violence Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted and beaten One of three women in emergency rooms at any given time are there as a result of domestic violence Husbands and boyfriends commit 13,000 acts of violence against women in the workplace every year 74% of abused women report that some of the abuse occurred while they were at work

44 So, What s Normal? Statistically, out of every 100 people: 6 will be diagnosed (this year) with a severe mental illness. 5 will attempt suicide in their lifetime. 10 will have been diagnosed with a significant drug or alcohol dependence or abuse problem. 5 will have been stalked by a spouse/partner. 13 will report having been raped or physically assaulted by an intimate partner.

45 It s Often Not About Eliminating High-Risk Human Behavior It s About Managing the Consequences of High-Risk Behaviors

46 This Is Not A Security Issue! This Is A Preventable Safety Issue!

47 A Workplace Violence Program In 5 Easy Steps Step 1: Program Assessment Step 2: Establish Policy Step 3:Critical Personnel Training Step 4: Employee Awareness Step 5: Threat Response Capability

48 Dr. Marc McElhaney Critical Response Associates P.O. Box Atlanta, GA (cell)