This article is designed as a brief guideline to assist you in creating greater awareness of workplace violence issues. This information will help in recognizing some of the warning signs and provides a brief review for post-employment termination. This article is not intended to be comprehensive and is not a training manual.
There are myriad issues involved in workplace-related violence. We strongly recommend that you consult with professional security experts that are capable of performing threat risk assessments any time that you become aware of someone exhibiting threatening, bizarre, or hostile behavior. Other concerns may include expressing suicidal thoughts, searching for weapons online at work, or desire to injure or harm people at work.
There are numerous instances where these types of warning signs were ignored in the workplace and which became active shooter situations that may have been diffused or prevented.
The following is a list of 25 red flag issues that may indicate increased potential for violence, however, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list. This information must be evaluated in combination with various other factors known about the person and should include a detailed background check, including criminal history, various public records, personal behaviors, any unusual or bizarre statements, and threats made (if any).
Threat risk assessments should be made by security specialists, law enforcement, or workplace trauma/forensic psychologists with specific experience in assessing workplace violence. These items, in various combinations, are often red flags regarding characteristic behaviors of potentially violent and threatening employees:
History of prior violence (including domestic violence)
Bullying & intimidating behavior
Emotionally unstable behaviors
Exhibiting paranoia concerning co-workers & others (belief that others constantly watching or talking about them)
Have mentioned they have stopped taking medications for personality disorders
Expressed interest in weapons (Note: all weapons should be taken seriously including high velocity archery sets, guns, knives, glass, etc.)
High degree of interest in military, law enforcement and other groups (may include hate groups and survivalist groups)
Verbalized approval of prior violent or aggressive incidents carried out by others
Frequently blaming others for their issues
Deteriorating work habits
Increasing or escalating performance issues
Escalating distraction & extreme nervousness
Poor personal hygiene (especially deteriorating personal habits)
Financially pressured and/ or high personal stress: recent death, in a messy divorce or child custody battle, home foreclosure, etc.
Prior issues with law enforcement (resisting arrest, evading police, road rage, concealed weapons violations, substance abuse, etc.)
“Loner” behavior (socially self-isolating)
Force their beliefs on others; spreading rumors/ gossip to elevate their own position
Argumentative, unreasonable & disparaging behavior
Constantly protesting about their boss/ the company/ filing multiple claims of unfair treatment
Makes verbal or written threats:
Addiction behaviors: alcohol, drugs (street or prescribed), obsessive romance
Harassing others regularly or frequently
Lacking basic people skills
Say they feel hopeless often or feel suicidal
Wants to bring a briefcase or purse into an exit interview & will not voluntarily part with the item.