What are the common triggering agents for workplace violence? The State of Connecticut, in their Violence in the Workplace: Policy and Procedures Manual (June 2007) , outline the most common triggering agents associated with workplace violence.

There are multiple issues that may trigger workplace violence. These tend to fall into two categories: employee issues and workplace issues. In terms of employee issues, the following events are potential “triggers.”

1. Negative performance review,
2. Unwelcome change in role due to performance or reorganization issue,
3. Criticism of performance,
4. Conflict with co-worker or supervisor,
5. Personal stress outside the workplace,
6. Increased workload or pressure (e.g. deadlines, projects, etc.)

In addition, certain workplace [issues] may contribute to an atmosphere which makes the occurrence of workplace violence more likely. These include:

1. No clearly defined rules of conduct,
2. Lack of training,
3. Inadequate hiring practices/screening of potential employees,
4. Insufficient supervision,
5. Lack of discipline or inconsistent discipline in workplace,
6. No or inadequate employee support systems,
7. Failure to address incidents as they occur,
8. Overly authoritarian management style.

Experts agree that three key elements that may prevent a potentially violent situation from occurring are:

– recognizing the early warning signs (often there is a change in a persons behavior preceding an episode of violence),
– recognizing issues or events that may trigger violence, and
– intervening early to prevent a violent incident from occurring

SAM Training is specifically designed to address the three key elements above. The curriculum takes you through the EARLY WARNING SIGNS, understanding context in combination with the early warning signs and ultimately how to address a potentially violent situation early to defuse and assist a disgruntled/troubled worker. SAM can provide the important training to your personnel to help eliminate workplace violence.

For any organization, workplace violence can be a significant economic liability and a public relations disaster waiting to happen. Unless proper steps, including a detailed risk assessment, are taken and documented to ensure the safety of your employees, you could be faced with lawsuits, potential loss of life and a damaged corporate/organizational image.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management, nearly 2/3s of Human Resource professionals state that there has been some type of workplace violence at their corporation/organization within the last three years. The distribution of workplace violence incidents is as follows:

- 54% : Inappropriate language
- 13% : Verbal abuse
- 7% : Verbal threats of violence
- 6% : Sexual harassment
- 5% : Burglary
- 4% : Pushing/Shoving
- 3% : Fistfight
- 2% : Threatening emails received by employees
- 2% : Stalking
- 1% : Robbery (holdup)
- 1% : Threatening emails send by employees
- 1% : Bomb threat

Each year, approximately 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Yet, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 9% of businesses reporting an incident had no program or policy in place to address workplace violence. Employers should understand the potential risks of a (violent) event in the workplace, develop a plan to respond to such an event, and know how to mitigate the loss they might experience.

SAM has a training program to address Workplace Violence. Once you have completed your internal risk assessment, please contact SAM. We will assist you in addressing any training needs to make sure your workplace violence policy is in compliance.

I came across this story last week in the local paper The Day. Unfortunately, it is another tragic story about a young kid taking his life — the speculation is that the young man was bullied in school. His father and grandparents are very upset by his death and are suing the town and school district for negligence relating to the bullying incident. Here are the facts as reported by The Day.

The father of a high school student who committed suicide this year has filed a notice that he intends to sue the town and the school district for negligence in a bullying incident that he alleges led his son to take his life.

Jose Mendes, the father of Joseph Mendes, alleges his son’s suicide was caused by “negligence and carelessness” of the town, the Board of Education and employees of Montville public schools.

An event on bullying awareness is scheduled for Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Mohegan Fire Company in Uncasville. The event will also serve as a benefit to raise money for a headstone for Joseph Mendes, Betty Allard said.

We implore you and your administration to take the proper steps to eliminate this behavior. Bullying is a disease in our schools that needs to be addressed with professional intervention. We have developed a training program at SAM which addresses bullying in our schools and trains teachers and administration on all aspects of bullying. I know there is plenty of economic stress in the school system, but can you really afford to wait?

Most States are taking legislative action to address bullying in schools. Our society has finally reached the bullying “crossroads” and has decided to address bullying with legislation. The legislation requires schools to take certain steps to mitigate bullying in schools. The legislation usually includes the following points: 1) Definition of bullying, 2) A point person or coordinator, 3) Reporting and the appropriate metrics, 4) Who at the school needs to be trained to recognize and deal with bullying, and 5) Training.

Such training may include, but not be limited to, (1) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting, (2) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying, (3) information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying, and (4) research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM is designed to address the TRAINING portion of the legislation (developed and passed) to take on the BULLYING disease. Here is a brief description of SAM and how the curriculum speaks to the points above.

(1) Developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) be proactive about personal safety and to minimize the risk of being a victim, (B) practice and master skills to use when threatened, (C) manage fear and anxiety during stressful situations, and (D) evaluate threats and possible options.

(2) Developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying.

SAM teaches students, teaches and administrators how to: (A) use non-verbal and verbal communication and paralanguage, (B) not show fear during the confrontation, (C) set appropriate limits and consequences that are applicable to school policies and procedures.

(3) Information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) step in and assist the student who is being bullied.

(4) Research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators on: (A) the difference between male and female bullies, (B) the difference between male and female victims, (C) the effects of being bullied, (D) how to manage physical bullying such as holds, physical assaults with personal weapons including knives and guns, and (E) what to do if there is an active shooter on campus or in a classroom.

SAM is a Training Program that addresses bullying in our schools. Please let us know if you think this type of Training Program would be beneficial in mitigating bullying in your educational environment.

Bullying –physical, verbal and emotional — is present in schools, colleges, workplaces, healthcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, state and federal agencies. All workplaces experience some form of bullying. Bullying is aggressive behavior.

MOAB — Management of Aggressive Behavior — founded by Roland W. Ouellette in 1983 to address and reduce violence in the workplace, has been used worldwide and proven effective in many diverse settings. Since its inception, more than 5,000 agencies have benefited from MOAB’s highly researched, state-of-the-art programs. SAM is rooted in the same sound principles of the highly acclaimed Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB®) program.

In 2006, the resulting tragedy of the Amish school shootings in Pennsylvania prompted Roland to turn his expertise specifically to the education community. Together with his daughter Ellen van Olden, former Vice President of MOAB® Training International and current President of SAM Training, LLC, created SAM Training, LLC to address the rising threat of violence, bulling, and active shooter risk directed at educators in classrooms and on campuses nationwide.

Violence in our schools is a modern reality that requires serious attention. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum stresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with excellent verbal, nonverbal and physical skills to effectively respond to threatening and potentially violent encounters.

Training Objectives: The SAM program will teach individuals the techniques to resolve bulling conflicts decisively and diplomatically regardless of age, size or strength, providing valuable skills and strategies to prevent and diffuse aggressive behavior.
Participants in SAM’s program will:

Learn how to identify a potential problem by recognizing the warning signs and know when an attack is imminent;

Prepare mentally to allow for appropriate and automatic responses during various situations;

Learn how to manage the stages of conflict, anxiety as well as verbal and physical aggression.

Aggressive behavior can be effectively dealt with using the principles subscribed to by SAM. To find out more information on how SAM and the SAM Programs can help your school, please visit our website.