Workplace Violence: In-Depth Analysis and Employer Prevention

Workplace Violence: In-Depth Analysis and Employer Prevention

By Michael D. Keller

Profiling the Lethal Employee: Case Studies of Violence in the Workplace

Michael D. Kelleher, executive deputy director of the Marin County Housing Authority (San Rafael, California), has held executive management positions in both the private and the public sectors for 25 years. A specialist in strategic management, staff education, and crisis management and resolution, Kelleher is author of New Arenas for Violence: Homicide in the American Workplace.

Kelleher sheds light on workplace murderers by discussing people that go beyond violent acts and the tiny percentage of people that commit mass murders at work. Sadly, "in many incidents of workplace murder, the intentions of the lethal employee are telegraphed long before he commits to violence" (p. 7).

These lethal employees generally share a set of personal and behavioral characteristics such as being white males between the ages of 30 and 60 years. They are often experiencing some of the following symptoms and behavior: severe and chronic frustration, triggering events such as terminations, social isolation, psychological problems, or obsession with weapons. Generally, "his primary targets will most likely be supervisors or members of management" (p. 108).

Kelleher examines case studies of more than 20 occupational killers. Concise summary tables condense the information known about each case. Much is unknown about their thought patterns, personal life history, and so on, because some lethal employees direct the violence on themselves and commit suicide after their shooting sprees.

Some information can be assembled later from coworkers or media reports, but these can be unreliable sources. Written in a highly dramatic style, these summaries describe desperate individuals committing crimes that are often preventable.

Although the workplace killer's motivations are sometimes unclear, many of the crimes show a degree of planning. As the crime proceeds, it may disintegrate into random violence directed at people with no connection to the employee.

After discussing the case histories, Kelleher addresses probable causes of the increase in occupational homicide in the past decade. "A general desensitization to violence has been the legacy of our entertainment industry, which is acted out with alarming frequency on our streets, at home, and in the workplace" (p. 112). He also states that ineffective job training can lead to chronic frustration. High unemployment and changing family scenarios are also adding stress to work and home life issues.

Addressing prevention, Kelleher notes that "recognition of the potential danger of the situation, accompanied by an effective response, must occur very early in the cycle leading to violence if prevention is to be effective" (p. 108-109). Also "if management vigorously endorses open communication among all employees and itself sets the example, individual workers tend to form more meaningful relationships and are less likely to address co-workers or supervisors with aggression" (p. 122).

Kelleher recommends that management ensure that employees perceive their value. In order "to promote a nonviolent workplace... {management should adequately compensate and regularly recognize the achievements of their workers" (p. 121). This prevents the bitterness that can result when those in the workforce feel unappreciated.

If preventative measures fail to address an employee's increasingly threatening behavior, a sensitive and caring intervention must be executed as quickly as possible. Kelleher recommends the use of an interdisciplinary team.

At a minimum, the intervention team should be comprised of a mental health professional or representative from an employee assistance program, a human resources specialist, a legal representative, a security or safety representative, and a member of the organization's senior management (p. 129).

Interventions require a large commitment of time and resources but are critical to avoid escalation of the situation.

Kelleher is to be commended for addressing this increasingly important topic.