How safe are you at work?

Workplace violence and aggressive behaviours are on the rise. People are committing the most egregious crimes. So, how safe do you feel at work? Do you live in fear that a violent event will occur or wonder if your actions could have prevented one? 

Violent incidents, including mass shootings, result from co-worker competition, disputes or jealousy. Some are random acts, and too often, mental illness is involved. The #MeToo movement has brought to light victims of sexual harassment or sexual assault.

So how do employers and the general population combat workplace hostility and other forms of violence? Do we arm ourselves while looking for warning signs? Do we stop engaging with problematic people? Or, do we create a mandatory training class on how to recognize, deal with and work through tense situations?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health classifies workplace violence into four categories:

• Criminal intent
• Customer/client
• Worker-on-worker
• Personal relationship

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, no matter who initiates the confrontation, the deadliest situations involve an active shooter. From the time the situation begins until the police arrive, you typically have three options: run, hide, or fight. 

If you are unarmed, running away is always the best option to protect yourself in a violent situation, according to Satellite Beach Chief of Police Jeff Pearson. 

“Getting out of harm’s way as soon as possible could save your life,” Pearson said. “The issue with hiding is that you can become a so-called sitting duck, and really are giving yourself no chance depending on the circumstances. If there are numerous people under attack, sometimes these individuals have been able to band together — as typically, there is strength in numbers.” 

But first, look for exits and find safety.

To protect themselves, many individuals carry concealed guns, knives, pepper spray, and other devices. Over the past two years, there has been an increase of gun carry permit applications across Brevard County.

According to Maria Dockery, owner of Femme Fatale ARMS and Training in West Melbourne, women are the fastest growing segment in the firearms industry. Some have protective or restraining orders against perpetrators but are unable to carry weapons into places of business where rules prohibit.

“As we continue to disarm employees, it’s easier for an attacker to visit the workplace and kill people,” Maria said. “By allowing in the weapon, the employee is taking protection into their own hands.” 

As of this writing, there were 32 mass shootings in the United States. Is allowing employees to arm an avenue to prevent mass shootings? We must ask if company policies are really helping protect employees, or if they are really protecting the corporation against future litigation.

StarStaff President and Headhunter Avery Plavin has been helping businesses expand their human capital for over 20 years. She offers contingency and retained staffing including permanent, temporary, and temp-to-perm. She has partnered with Fortune 100 companies, private entities and smaller businesses to help facilitate their staffing needs. At StarStaff, Avery helps clients prosper by providing one-of-a-kind staffing services that include competitive analysis, tools, expert resume writing, and resources — all allowing both the individual and organizations to remain competitive in our ever-changing market.

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