In the latest tragic outburst of workplace violence, Omar Thornton, a driver for a Connecticut beer distributor, murdered eight of his co-workers and wounded two others before killing himself. Thornton brought two 9 mm handguns to work on the morning he was scheduled to attend a disciplinary hearing to review claims that he had stolen company beer. After being confronted with surveillance footage showing him stealing the beer, Thornton agreed to resign. Moments later, he retrieved the guns, murdered the two men who had attended his hearing, and went on a killing spree throughout the facility.
Although heartbreaking incidents like this are shocking, murder by disgruntled employees is the least common form of workplace homicide, claiming fewer than 100 victims a year. For every murder, however, there are countless incidents of less severe forms of violence that employers must attempt to prevent. Employers face potential liability for failing to terminate employees that show signs of potential violence. Employers of all sizes must maintain a safe work environment, and should implement a violence protection plan.
The following basic safety steps are among those that could make the difference in preventing tragedy:
- Clearly define prohibited conduct in the workplace, including physical violence, intimidation, harassment, or other inappropriate or disruptive behavior. Examples include expressing grudges, belligerent speech, refusal to follow policies and procedures, aggressive arguing, sabotage, and damage to company property. Train supervisors on how to recognize such behavior in its early stages.
- Limit access to company premises to persons with a legitimate reason to visit.
- Require employees to immediately report violations of the safety policy, including incidents involving actual or threatened violence, to management.
- Install video cameras to ensure that company safety policies are strictly observed.
- Give careful consideration to the time and place for employee discipline and termination; minimize the potential for others to be put in harm's way.
- Install security guards when necessary to confront escalated threats.
- Consider obtaining temporary restraining orders against employees who present an acute risk of imminent harm.
- Retain a security expert to review your workplace and point out areas for improvement.
