Risky Business: Managing Employee Violence in the Workplace

by Winston; William

• ISBN13: 9780789001009
• ISBN10: 0789001004
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1996-09-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Risky Business tells in plain language the specific behaviors that indicate an employee has the potential to become violent, and it tells managers what to do--and what not to do--to prevent workplace violence. Author Lynne Falkin McClure describes in clear detail the eight major categories of behavioral clues to violence and includes anecdotes from work settings to help managers and others identify potentially violent employees. Most importantly, she emphasizes the precautions and steps managers must take when they see these "clues" in an employee's behavior and how to create and maintain a work environment that is likely to protect everyone. Including the hiring--appraisal--training process, Risky Business focuses on system-wide, ongoing prevention steps organizations can take to protect everyone in the workplace. The book points out for readers informal organizational 'policies'that unwittingly encourage potentially dangerous behaviors in employees and then offers alternative 'policies'that create and maintain a safer environment. Managers, members of personnel, and public relations representatives learn how to deal effectively with the fears of workers and customers should a violent event occur that affects the company's morale and image. However, readers are certain to gain the skills and foresight necessary to avert disaster before it strikes. Lynne Falkin McClure, PhD, is a management consultant, workshop designer/facilitator, and public speaker in Tempe, Arizona. President of McClure Associates Management Consultants, Inc., since 1980, she specializes in work relationships and conducts inhouse workshops for corporations and government agencies. Through The McClure Institute in Tempe, she offers intensive 5--day courses for executives, directors, and managers, as well as for EAP specialists and mental health professionals, on how to identify and prevent potential workplace violence. Dr. McClure has been a guest on several national shows, including appearances on "Maury Povich," "Between the Lines" (Associated Press Broadcast News), "Good Day Atlanta," "Market Talk" (KWHY-TV, America's first all-financial station), and "Wireless Flash" (San Diego).

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
The Manager's Dilemma	p. 1
The High-Risk Profile: How to Identify Potentially Violent Employees	p. 5
The Actors: Employees Who Act Primarily on the Basis of Their Emotions	p. 15
The Fragmentors: Employees Who See No Continuity Between Actions and Results	p. 25
The Me-Firsts: Employees Who Focus Almost Exclusively on Their Own Needs	p. 35
The Wooden Sticks: Employees Who Approach Life Inflexibly	p. 45
The Mixed-Messengers: Employees Who Behave in Passive-Aggressive Ways	p. 55
The Escape Artists: Employees Who Avoid Reality	p. 65
The Shockers: Employees Whose Behaviors Change Suddenly, Dramatically, and/or for the Worse	p. 77
The Strangers: Employees Who Behave in Remote or Withdrawn Ways	p. 95
What You Must- and Must Not- Do as a Manager When Employees Behave in High-Risk Ways	p. 111
How Managers Unknowingly Encourage High-Risk Behaviors	p. 129
Preventive Steps Managers Can Take to Discourage High-Risk Behaviors: Changing Informal Policies	p. 151
Preventive Steps Managers Can Take to Discourage High-Risk Behaviors: Training, Behavioral Criteria, and Other Official Policies	p. 165
The Marketing Side: How to Deal with External and Internal Customers If a Crisis Occurs at Work	p. 191
Balancing Caution with Compassion	p. 203
Index	p. 205
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.