A Different Perspective on Violence

About two years ago, I was working with a credit union in Dallas and Houston. Their CEO approached me after the first branch training at the main branch and asked if I had heard what happened to one of their tellers the year or so prior. I had not, so he informed me of how one day this very beloved employee simply did not show up for work. After raising some concern that calls and text messages were not being returned, they soon found out her fate as police showed up informing them she had been killed in her home the night before by her husband. The CEO said that loss sent shock waves throughout the company, but especially affected that particular branch where she worked that only had a staff of 6-8 for months following the tragedy.

What happens "off-the-clock" affects employee performance, if not actual presence, "on-the-clock".

When we see and hear stories like the recent shooting in Las Vegas, Pulse Nightclub, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Cinemark Theater shooting, or any host of similar violent tragedies, our thoughts naturally go to the families -- naturally. But the "extended family" for most are those they work with for eight hours or so five days a week -- their companies and co-workers. They, too, are impacted by such tragedies and loss, certainly from a HR perspective, but also from an emotional/psychological perspective. And what of the victims of such tragedies who are *employers*? What happens to those businesses, those employees where no succession planning was in-place? I have seen businesses fold in such instances with employees now among the unemployed.

We had a young, female dentist murdered here in Dallas a year or so ago now, which turned out to be a contract killing by the ex-girlfriend of the dentist's boyfriend. She was killed in the parking garage of her upscale apartment community -- a community with cameras, alarms, access controls, secured parking garage, etc. She *had* an office, she *had* employees that looked to her for employment -- but all fell apart following her death. The ripple effects of violence don't even have to involve multiple victims, one victim alone can impact a company -- especially if the victim is the employer.

What is offered in the name of commercial security is typically limited to physical security, meaning cameras, alarms, and access controls. In some cases, maybe security patrols or guards as well. All of these are thoughtful, reasonable, and worthwhile investments, absolutely. I could say the same for similar personal investments in the home. But as most of our news and social media stores demonstrate on a very regular basis, so many instances of violence occur *outside* of the home or office -- where people are simply out living and enjoying their lives. What this calls for is a more holistic approach to safety and security beyond the technological. We have to start educating people -- employees and employers alike -- so that whether onsite or offsite, on-the-clock or off-the-clock, that mindset of safety and security go with them...and their families. For while the victims of such crimes may not be returning to work for a while (or ever), neither are the parents, spouses, or siblings who attend to their loved ones' medical care or estates following their fates.

For decades the schools have trained *our* children when it comes to drinking and driving, texting while driving, smoking, drugs, stranger/danger, and a host of other issues that really fall under the banner of parental responsibility -- yet they have done so and without complaint, investing thousands of dollars into such educational programs and initiatives -- after also having invested thousands in cameras, alarms, access controls, and even private security. It is time for employers to pick up that similar challenge of education and training for their employees, just as the schools have done for our kids and teens. Who else is the most logical source of such training for adults?

Yes, looking at violence as it impacts businesses and workplaces is a different perspective, but one we would do well to consider and implement if we are to see our employees being safer and more productive, returning *each day* to greet their co-workers and employers as the extended families that they represent.

Jeff McKissack, President, Defense By Design