Page 12 - Security Today, September 2019

Averting Workplace Violence Commercial properties demand planning and communications
By Greg Falahee
Today’s property manager has many tasks to complete on a daily basis: navigating the ins and outs of the busi- ness, ensuring that all processes, systems and personnel are in place to secure their physical assets, and creating a positive environment for tenants and visitors. Proper- ty managers, who act as a liaison between the asset manager/landlord and tenants, as well as a variety of service providers, do not govern the actions of their tenants but act as educators to ensure their ten- ants are safe and secure.
Workplace violence is a challenging and unpredictable security issue and a pressing trend for property managers in establishing poli- cies and procedures on workplace violence avoidance, particularly if they do not already have a comprehensive plan in place. These poli- cies should place a fundamental emphasis on 360-degree communica- tion, which ensures that tenants, building managers, legal personnel, human resources management, risk management, security staff and law enforcement are involved and working toward shared goals.
Four Categories
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0919 | SECURITY TODAY
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workplace violence falls into four categories: Criminal intent, customer/client, worker-on-worker and personal re- lationship, which overwhelmingly targets women. While a variety of personal or professional issues can lead to violence in the workplace, one common source is employee termination.
Property managers cannot predict if an employee’s angry spouse will show up on site or if an employee’s financial challenges will lead to violent behavior, but a planned termination gives the manager time to put the resources and protocols in place that can help prevent workplace violence. Proactive property managers work with their tenants to ensure that when an exit interview is conducted, all neces- sary data is collected. If the terminated employee reacts angrily and issues threats, for example, an established plan of action will prepare the building for possible negative eventualities. Local law enforce- ment can be alerted, a photo of the aggrieved former employee can
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WORKPLACE VIOLENCE