Working With The Enemy: Ft. Hood and Beyond

According to OSHA, over 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence yearly and an average of two workers die daily in its clutches. Most recently the Yale murder of Annie Le and the Ft. Hood shooting have brought our attention once again to this bubbling health issue. But why is this happening and how can we safeguard our workers?First we must understand what is workplace violence.The OSHA Fact Sheet on workplace violence states that it is the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide. By the previous definition, I am sure that most of us have been victims or the perpetrators of workplace violence Think about it. How many times have you called someone a superlative(off-color comment) at work due to a sub standard job performance, a leaked personal anecdote or because half of your lunch was missing? These are incidents the average Joe or Jane would laugh at and shrug off. Someone who is not will react quite differently. Some believe a significant portion of workplace violence can be attributed to depression. Psychologists point to specific mood changes such as irritability, short-temperament, feelings of hopelessness,inability to focus and so on as tell-tale signs of a brewing condition. In the Ft. Hood case there have been several reports indicating that the suspect was visibly upset about his impending deployment. In the Yale case there are published reports of altercations between the accused and the victim due to workplace protocol conflicts. Even these behaviors could easily be rationalized as par for the course in a work environment. At one point or another we have all been irritated and upset due to the actions of a co-worker or, most frequently management. According to The National Institute For The Prevention of Workplace Violence, one of 10 Americans (10%) say they work in an atmosphere where physical violence has occurred because of stress, with 42% saying their workplace is a place where yelling and verbal abuse takes place. The fact is, like my grandma use to say "cada cabeza es un mundo..." That means every head is a universe and it really is. We have no way of knowing what someone is thinking when we make a statement or gesture or if individuals who display the aforementioned symptoms are on the verge of committing a heinous act on their colleagues.

Do you know how many thoughts your mind processes daily? According to Jim Fannin ( A-Rod's performance coach) most people have an average of 2,500 thoughts a day and over half of those thoughts are in a state of flux. Once we throw environmental considerations and genetics into the equation, the issue of workplace violence becomes fodder for the slippery slope theorists. All is not lost. There are a few things that can be done to help create a harmonious and ultimately safe workplace.

• First a zero -tolerance policy can go a long way towards discouraging derogatory comments or negative behavior in the workplace. Though it is important to enjoy your work, it is equally as important to be professional and remember that you are paid for your expertise, not (in most cases) your sparkling wit.
• Be kind: 34% of American workers cite rudeness as a major source of stress If you are stressed you are more likely to engage in destructive behaviors.
• Deal immediately with inappropriate behavior. follow your company's established standards, if none are in place address your concerns with your management.
• Trade war stories. Research conducted at Kansas State University suggests that men find the retelling of past challenges an effective way of dealing with stress. Knowing that you are not alone in your situation or predicament can offset the harsh blow of reality and make you less inclined to act out of frustration and helplessness which often leads to workplace violence.
• Lastly know your limits. If you feel you cannot cope or overwhelmed please get help. I have listed resources at the end of this article.
  The bottom line is there are no tried and true preventions for workplace violence. It has and can strike at any place, person or time. Do your part to make your workplace safe and hopefully the wheat will separate from the chaff...
• http://tiny.cc/tA7NS
• http://www.pe2000.com/anger.htm
• http://tiny.cc/TSL4S