Business owners walk a fine line when respecting an employee’s right to privacy intersects with the very real need to prevent incidents of workplace violence from occurring.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines workplace violence as a “murder or other violent acts committed by a disturbed or aggrieved employee or ex-employee against co-workers or supervisors”. Incidents of workplace violence have been well-documented by the media over the course of the last three decades.
Common workplace violence issues
Workplace violence issues can occur when co-workers become upset with each other and the confrontation escalates to physical violence. These types of confrontations are usually sparked by bad performance reviews or personality clashes between individuals. One of the earliest examples of mass workplace violence occurred on Aug. 28, 1986. Patrick H. Sherrill, a part-time letter carrier was facing dismissal due to poor work performance. He walked into an Edmond, Oklahoma post office and shot 14 people to death before turning his gun on himself. In March of 1998, four state lottery workers in Connecticut were killed by a co-worker and in December of 2000 seven people were killed by a disgruntled software engineer in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Workplace violence can also occur when the domestic problems of an employee are brought to the workplace. That’s what happened on Nov. 8, 2001 when Ana Melina Kolic was stabbed 29 separate times by her husband while at work in a Baltimore, Md. hair accessory shop.
The question then becomes what can a business owner do to ensure the safety and security of employees while they are at work. Technology can provide an answer.
Electronic access systems
Sonitrol managed access systems automatically regulate access to buildings and other sensitive areas of your facility. This will provide a safer work environment for your staff members with an increased level of security for your valuable information and other proprietary data.
The electronic access systems offered by Sonitrol include access cards and fobs. This will save a business from changing the locks every time an employee leaves. The fobs and cards also protect you against internal theft by limiting employee access to certain areas within your facility.
IP Cameras
While cameras are notorious for “catching” workplace violence, they also are a preventative measure. Disgruntled employees may be less likely to come to the business to start trouble if they know they will be caught on camera. However, if the worst case scenario does play out, having the right camera system in place is a necessity. Clear footage and proper placement are necessary to not only catch the incident, but perhaps catch it early to help lockdown a facility with an access system. Having a skilled professional review the area for the right camera can also save a business owner money;
- One 360 degree camera instead of two
- A heavy-duty camera in a harsh environment that will not have to be replaced in a short period of time.
- A low light camera instead of an infrared
Verified detection
Disgruntled employees may also feel the business “owes’ them something and try to retrieve it after hours. Employees can be savvy on the systems layout and if there is a security system. If there is only door and window contacts and motion detectors, an employee may know the placement of these devices and break in through an entry point like a roof or a wall. Sonitrol’s verified alarm systems are built so that they can catch someone trying to break in, in an unconventional manner. Because it is a verified burglary, police will respond up to 38 minutes faster than a conventional motion-based system.
More importantly, many security systems can be equipped with a panic button that will instantly and quietly dispatch police when reaching to call 911 is not an option. Many panic buttons only send the alarm. But when the panic button is pressed on a Sonitrol verified system the company’s monitoring professionals can listen in and provide necessary details to responding law enforcement. This can help law enforcement to formulate a plan of action to protect them and better assist those inside the building.
For more information on helping you help those working for you, contact us.
