Workplace Violence: Warning Signs

Here are some warning characteristics of a potentially dangerous employee:

  • Is often absent or late.
  • Forgets to do the assigned work, or does it late or sloppily.
  • Becomes slow, ineffective, and unpredictable in work habits.
  • Frequently fails to-pay attention to the job, and may have accidents.
  • Displays lax or bizarre personal grooming habits
  • Seems alienated from co-workers; shows a lack of social skills or desire for normal social contact
  • Displays signs of possible substance abuse Reacts inappropriately to stressful situations (for instance, showing undue distress or talking incessantly after a minor incident)
  • Blames others for mistakes, or claims that errors or misbehavior owes to others' influence
  • Appears depressed or swings frequently between depression and euphoria
One of the easiest ways to recognize a potential troublemaker is by listening to your other workers. A negative reaction shared by several otherwise congenial people may be the first tip-off to a distressed individual.

The most serious warning signal is an obsession with weapons. Don't overlook any sign of an excessive interest in weapons - even if the interest has been revealed only in conversation. Any sign of a weapon being brought to work warrants immediate dismissal. Upon dismissal or even investigation, heighten your security.

Sometimes a worker who was injured by a violent employee sues an employer. The victim may charge that the employer ought to have seen the danger - or failed to investigate him or her properly before hiring. Employment Practices Liability insurance protects you from such a suit, paying for your legal defense and any settlement or damages awarded by a court (up to the policy's limits, of course).

A New Violence Coverage A new policy, Workplace Violence insurance, covers you for losses caused by an unlawful act of deadly force or threat that results in the bodily injury or death of an employee or other person who is on your premises with your permission.

Unlike an Employment Practices policy, this coverage pays for expenses such as loss of business income, restoration and public relations expense, consultant costs, any reward going to an informant, temporary security measures, and a death benefit. It also pays the salary and medical expenses (including rest and recovery) of employees who are unable to work because of the violence.

The policy has a $25,000 deductible and is available in all states and selected markets abroad with up to $5 million in coverage.