Workplace Violence

A Case Study
Ravish Modi (48) Anand Mohta (49) Shivanshu Murarka (50)

Nisha Mishra (46)

Pradeep Mishra (47)

Violence spills over into the workplace

Date & Place

Wednesday, January 26, 2005. DaimlerChrylsers Toledo, Ohio. An Employee walked into a Jeep Plant and in matter of minutes, killed one man, wounded two and then shot and killed himself.

Incident

Aftermath

An another employee who was also injured in this event filed the suit against the company and security firm for not having adequate security.

Any physical assault, threatening behavior in the work setting involving an explicit or implicit challenge to peoples safety, well-being or health
Expressions of hostility Gestures, facial expressions & verbal assaults Threats of physical violence Harassment, intimidation, bullying

Passive/aggressive behaviors that impede job performance or achievement

*Source: -Joel Neuman, Journal of Management, May/June, 1998 -Wikipedia

History repeats in bigger way

ABB Shooting: Jan 7,2010 - Timothy Hendron ( employed for 23 yrs) killed four coworkers and himself in St. Louis. He was involved in a lawsuit against the company regarding a dispute over retirement benefits.
Lockheed Martin airplane-parts plant: July 2003, Doug Williams in Meridian, Miss., stood up in the middle of a mandatory ethics meeting went out to his car, and came back with several guns. He then shot six co-workers to death and wounded eight others before committing suicide

Facts
The Centers for Disease Control has called workplace violence a "national epidemic"
American business and government offices spend over $36 billion per year on costs related to workplace violence

17% of workplace murders are committed by coworkers and customers/ Clients

Approx. 20,000 assaults and 792 homicide in 2005 in US as per OSHA.

Homicide is the fourth leading cause of occupation al death in the United States.

Oct 09th, 2010 Upset over the duty allotted to him, a CRPF constable allegedly shot dead an assistant commandant and a sub-inspector besides leaving a Havildar seriously injured at a paramilitary camp in Bihar's Rohtas district.

Source: http://www.asianage.com/india/fratricidecase-crpf-constable-kills-commandant-si-422

The Indian episode

*Sources: (Fortune Magazine) http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/02/21/8251768/index.htm http://stockmarketsreview.com/pressrelease/2010/10/02/workplace-violence-prevention-tips-for-employers

Stressors are same

Employee Former Employee Customer Vendor Contractor Who commits? Adverse Work Culture Disparity Personal/official Conflict Insanity
Increase in social tolerance of violence Increased accessibility to weapons Less control on work environment Lack of opportunity, ability & motivation Downsizing, re-engineering

Assumptions

Why Increase in volume?

Competitors Inefficient Management Unsafe work culture

Company Unsatisfied employees.

Repercussion of personal or official conflicts.

Individual
Ineffective or absence of anti-violence policies.

Lapse of Security System.

Influence of Social Culture. No Background verification. Inappropriate Work design & work stress.
Unsatisfied performance appraisal & rewards.

Mentally Unstable. Lack of communication.

Analysis

Influence of Social Culture

Factors Access to weapons Exposure to Violence Fear of Job Loss Standard of Living/ Per Capita Income Respect for parents, teachers and boss Orientation Unites States Easy High Low/Nil High class Low/Medium Individual India Difficult Low/Medium High Middle class High Family

Family Values
Substance Abuse

Low/Medium
High

High
Low

Belief in non-violence (Gandhigiri)

Lifestyle

Low
Modern

High
Traditional/ Semi-modern

Food for Thought

Liability

How liable should companies be for the violent act committed during work by their employees?

Can companies completely prevent workplace violence? If not, how can they reduce it?

Companies may be sued in court of law Companies may be liable for monetary compensation and/or family responsibilities Courts often award money to claimant even if responsibility seems questionable

Prevention
Can increase chances of detection Reduce chances of occurrence Generate awareness and increase associate satisfaction

Why do you think only 1% of companies have formal antiviolence policies?

Installing metal detectors. Can companies take prevention too far including infringing privacy?

Policy Implementation
Myth - Companies feel workplace violence is a rare phenomenon , wont happen in the presence metal detector Many laws defined for almost all forms of violence, hence redundant to define anti-violent policy in company Socio-economical culture & its influence

Zero Tolerance
Safety and Security on prime priority Maintain respect & integrity of employees Use advance technologies

Prevention is better than cure

Administrative & Regulatory Interpersonal/ Behavioral Management Commitment

Environmental

On the Job

Background Verification

Physical Barriers/ Turnstiles CCTV Surveillance

Changing attitude towards security and policies Staff Training to anticipate, recognize and respond

Plan and allocate budget for security

Monitor and Control based on data Performance management Disturbance/ Grievance Handler
Emergency Response & Threat Assessment Teams

Zero tolerance for violence Consistent Discipline Encourage Reporting Identify warning signs
Take timely disciplinary actions including termination

Sign on Code of Ethics

Biometric Systems

Effective antiviolent policy implementation /SOPs

Metal & Explosive Detectors

Armed security personnel

Effective and proactive communication channels

Media Contact

CI & CB Analysis
CONTROL
Influence of Society Government Policies Low Control High Impact Mentally Unstable Low Control Low Impact

I M P A C T

Security High Control High Impact

Cost Benefit Analysis

HBLC
C O S T
Encourage Reporting Disturbance/ Grievance Handler Take timely disciplinary actions including termination Identify warning signs

Processes, Training High Control Low Impact

Control Impact Analysis

HBHC
Physical Barriers/ Turnstiles CCTV Surveillance Biometric Systems Metal & Explosive Detectors Armed security personnel

C O S T

Putting Together
Person
Ramification loss of human life emotional trauma loss of employees financial costs may close the business Workmans compensation, legal expenses and lawsuits

Sources
Setting Situation

Act Now
Careful hiring practices Close employee supervision. Note behavior changes Report and document all threats Listen emphatically to employee concerns Know the warning signs Personal Conduct to de-escalate confrontation Develop Response team

Interactive Workplace Violence Management

Live & Let Live

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage-to move in the opposite direction -E. F. Schumacher