The Henry Pratt Co. tragedy and six ways employers can avoid gun violence in the workplace

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According to multiple news reports, on Friday, shortly after the Henry Pratt Company communicated to a 15-year employee that the company was ending his employment, he began shooting. All told, he killed five employees (in a five-minute span). After police arrived, the shooter exchanged gunfire. Six officers were injured. The employee died.

You can read the WaPo report here, and the NPR report here.

Six Tips For Employers.

If you’ve been following this story, you’ll see many articles about gun control, including how the shooter was not authorized to possess a firearm. You’ll also read about the shooter’s history with domestic violence.

But, by focus here is how employers can take proactive measure to reduce the risk of such extreme workplace violence.

While I don’t have THE solution, I do have several suggestions that address the root of the problem, before the onset of violence. By that point, it’s too late to do anything except run for cover:

1. Screen your employees. Use a third-party for pre-employment screening. Carefully tailor interview questions, background and reference checks, and drug testing if it is appropriate for the position and consistent with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

2. Have a weapon-free workplace policy. SHRM has a nice example here.

3. Train your employees. When workplace violence erupts, the adjective “disgruntled” isn’t far behind. Disgruntled employees are often that way because of workplace issues that go unaddressed. The key here is open communication. So, as an employer, ask yourself these questions:

Does your employee handbook explain — in plain speak — how to report claims of workplace harassment — unlawful or otherwise?
Do you then take the next step and train your employees on how to report?
Do you train your managers on how to handle employee complaints?
How often are you conducting training?
Are you following up with employees and managers between training?

4. Identify the warning signs. According to this workplace violence prevention guide, the following are just some of the indicators that can signal the risk potential of violent episodes:

Sudden and persistent complaining about being treated unfairly
Blaming of others for personal problems
Sudden change in behavior, deterioration in job performance
Statement that he or she would like something bad to happen to supervisor or another coworker
Paranoid behavior
Sudden increased absenteeism
Sexually harassing, or obsessing about a co-worker: sending unwanted gifts, notes, unwanted calling, stalking

5. Consider implementing an Employee Assistance Program. An Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, is a counseling service administered by a third party which is designed to help employees deal with problems. These programs are often best suited for employees with alcohol and controlled substance addictions, but they also benefit those with emotional issues or, really, anyone who needs to talk about a personal problem.

6. Remove direct threats. Spotting imminent threats in the workplace is difficult. And many employers — for fear of lawsuit — are reluctant to take adverse employment action against an employee who appears mentally unstable. But remember, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer need not reasonably accommodate an employee who poses a direct threat to either herself or to other employees. Indeed, if that employee is a direct threat to himself/herself or others, remove that employee from the workplace.

Here are some other helpful resources on workplace violence prevention: