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When the calm of a normal day shatters

When news like the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech breaks, it's a sad reminder that we live in a time when workplace and school violence happens. It leaves us stunned, bewildered and feeling out of control.

Since graphic coverage of the Columbine High School Shooting in Littleton, Colorado in 1999, we've been witness to several more incidents that make it clear these crimes know no boundaries. While we can never be fully prepared to deal with a massacre on the level of Virginia Tech, it's important to realize we can take this time to think about workplace and school violence prevention and response. At Ceridian LifeWorks, we help employers do just that.

Whether the shootings at Virginia Tech leave you feeling you need to talk to a counselor, or you need supportive materials for discussions with your family, Ceridian's employee assistance program can help. We also offer organizational consulting on workplace and school violence prevention that helps employers put preventative programs in place.

We mourn for those who were lost and for the friends and families dealing with the traumatic aftermath. And as always, we soldier on. The information in this story provides guidance from our experts and we hope you find it a helpful resource at a difficult time.

You can take preventative action
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) reports there are an estimated 18,000 assaults and 1,000 murders in the U.S. workplace every year. Ceridian Workplace Violence Prevention Services are available to help your organization prepare and respond with expert knowledge and customized training.

Ceridian Workplace Violence Prevention Services
Professional Workplace Interaction, Inc. (PWI) has partnered with Ceridian since 1997 to help organizations recognize specific warning signs, create and implement crisis response teams and restore a feeling of safety by discouraging threats and acts of workplace violence. Our level of services range from one-time training to 24/7 access to violence prevention specialists.

"Headline-making events are dramatic, but they account for only a small number of workplace and school violence issues," says Dave Smith, founder and CEO of PWI. "There are many less obvious inappropriate behaviors, actions, statements, events and incidents that are often not understood or even considered when evaluating the potential risk of workplace and school violence."

Organizations decide to take a proactive approach to managing violence for a variety of reasons including a close call with someone out of control, compliance issues, OSHA guidelines or fear of litigation. "In many cases, organizations believe it's the right thing to do," says Smith. "A school or organization cannot truly achieve the highest levels of behavioral excellence without addressing the success detractors of behavioral risk."

Smith explains that in preparing to address workplace violence, it's important to develop an ongoing process that includes a comprehensive plan. "The plan should be systematic and communicated effectively and consistently throughout the organization. The plan should also be proactive with the goal of preventing incidents, or lessening their impact, by encouraging reporting and action," he says.

Warning signs
After violent incidences occur, often we find that there were warning signs. "It's become almost cliché to hear reports from neighbors and acquaintances that perpetrators were 'quiet' and 'kept to themselves,' " says Smith. "But it's important to understand that 'quiet' and 'loner-type' profiles are different. And it's law enforcement's responsibility to profile, while our interests lie in identifying inappropriate behaviors."

Smith says the following stages of behavior are highly correlated to workplace and school violence.

Stage one behaviors are the following early indicators of violence:

• Verbally abusive.
• Noncompliance with policies and procedures.
• Frequently argumentative.
• Frequent complaints from customers.
• Suicidal thoughts expressed to others.
• Instigating and spreading lies and rumors.
• Excessive and inappropriate use of profanity.
• Inappropriate and sexually explicit language.
• Harassing and abusing others verbally or sexually.
• Angry outbursts and frequent signs of frustration.

Stage two behaviors indicate increased risk for hands-on violence:

• Arguing frequently and intensely.
• Blatantly disregarding organizational policies and procedures.
• Setting traps for others.
• Stealing from the company, from employees or vandalizing.
• Making suicidal threats.
• Making verbal threats, expressing the intent to harm others.
• Conveying unwanted sexual attention or violent intentions by letter, voice mail or email.
• Blaming others for problems or difficulties; feeling persecuted by others.

Stage three behaviors are the most extreme and indicate hands-on physical violence. A person who displays stage three violence is very dangerous and intervention is generally not appropriate for organizations. These behaviors require the assistance of law enforcement and mental health professionals:

• Simple assaults, physical confrontations and altercations.
• Aggravated assaults, weapons used.
• Displaying weapons (guns, knives, pepper spray).
• Armed or strong-armed robbery.
• Committing or attempting to commit assault, sexual assault, homicide, arson or suicide.

"While we can't prevent hurricanes and other natural disasters, we can prevent incidents of workplace and school violence if we work at it," says Diane Syer, Ceridian senior training consultant. Smith and Syer recommend that organizations do the following to work toward prevention of workplace violence:

• Organize and train a crisis management and threat assessment team.
• Establish a workplace violence policy.
• Develop an emergency response plan.
• Train management and employees to recognize and report potential threats of violence.
• And perhaps most importantly, violence prevention must become an ongoing program with regular, recurring training.

Employee assistance program resources
Employers with Ceridian's Employee Assistance Program offer a resource to their employees and families that gives them confidential access to support for issues that impact their lives. Counselors are available 24/7 and assistance can be provided online, by phone, onsite, in printed and audio materials and by referral.

In situations specific to workplace violence, employees can get support that ranges from talking to a counselor about anxiety triggered by a traumatic event, to onsite assessments and critical incident stress debriefings. Our EAP services also include access to LifeWorks Online, a Web site that has educational materials created by our own experts. Employees and their family members can seek help on specific issues anonymously. Access to a wide variety of resources is available including Web forums, CDs and articles, and in this instance, information to help parents talk to their children about their fears since the shootings.

Critical incident stress management
Critical incident stress management helps employers by providing onsite debriefings and support for distressing workplace events. The services also help employers develop plans to reduce the risk of workplace crises. We have experience acting in a rapid response capacity for workplace violence, disaster recovery and the aftermath of natural disasters.

"Critical incident stress debriefings, whether onsite or telephonic, are meant to reduce the long-term effects of a traumatic event, including post traumatic stress disorder," says Todd Kohl, Ceridian Management Services consultant. "We guarantee employers that we can be onsite anywhere in the U.S. within two hours of being contacted." Although Kohl advises that immediate intervention might not be best in some circumstances because people can be in shock for several hours after an incident occurs. He says that critical incident stress debriefings are most effective when they are conducted within a day or two of an incident.

A sign of the times
Kohl says that calls have increased after the shootings and that we can safely assume kids are affected by the news. "The Virginia Tech incident strikes our vulnerabilities and graphic media coverage brings the monster into our living rooms," he explains.

"The world isn't as safe as it used to be and since 9/11 we get twitchy and nervous after a traumatic event," Kohl says. "We're now living in that reality and many people need to reach out for support when things like this happen. We're here to help normalize a person's response and soothe their fears. We help them understand that they're going through a normal process and their symptoms will dissipate over time. Fears center on a loss of control and we help people re-establish their feelings and give them comfort until they once again realize the world is a reasonably safe place," Kohl imparts.

Ceridian LifeWorks can help
Perhaps one of the most striking news reports came from an interview with a student who described a phone call he had from a concerned friend shortly after the April 16 shootings -- a U.S. soldier calling from Iraq to make sure his friend was OK.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy. If you'd like our help or more information about our services, you can contact your Ceridian representative, or call 1-800-729-7655, extension 481.

Sources
Workplace and School Violence: Managing and Reducing the Risk, by David A. Smith, founder and CEO, Professional Workplace Interaction, Inc.