While it is impossible to weed out all workplace violence, there are things employers can do to educate and their managers on recognizing the warning signs before tragedies such as the Annie Le murder.  According to Environmental Health and Safety Today, these warning signs include changes in mood, personal hardships, mental health issues (e.g. depression, anxiety), negative behavior (e.g. untrustworthiness, lying, bad attitude), verbal threats and past history of violence.  I would have created a great list for you, but I found the suggestions from Environmental Health and Safety Today to be very inclusive. These suggestions include:

1. Management should conduct a thorough organizational risk assessment and develop workplace violence prevention policies and programs that address potential risks in environmental design (security cameras, key card access), administrative controls and behavioral strategies.
2. Programs should clearly define the spectrum of workplace violence (ranging from harassment to homicide), delineate employee responsibilities for recognizing and reporting signs, and be shared with every employee. All programs should promote zero tolerance.
3. Ask for and integrate employee ideas when developing and implementing a violence prevention program.
4. Create a confidential and seamless reporting system. Encourage workers to report any and all concerns to a single representative, such as an occupational health and safety professional or human resource manager.
5. Incorporate a variety of communications tools such as posters, newsletters, staff meetings and new employee materials.
6. When training employees, review common warning signs, behavioral traits and how to recognize potential problems. Employees should also understand that each case is different, and to not limit at risk behavior to a standard profile.
7. Involve all employees in workplace violence prevention programs. Training should be ongoing and mandatory for every employee.
8. As an employee, actively participate in all education and awareness programs. If you do not have a violence prevention program at work, request information from your occupational health department, human resource department or manager.
9. As an employee, if you recognize that a colleague exhibits at risk behavior, report any concerns to your human resources representative or occupational health professional.

Lastly, I think it would be prudent for large organizations to pay for a service to run conviction record on all current employees each year.  Smaller organizations may want to hire an intern to look up employees on their state’s public convictions record database (which are almost always online). Employers would be surprised to find that many of their long term employees have several convictions ranging from drug trafficking to felony assault.  You will want to decide in advance how you will deal with employees who are convicted of drug related or violent crimes.  This will be your hardest task in this equation.

When reviewing past cases of workplace violence, it often seems that there are numerous warning signs that people notice, but never report.  An employer should do everything in their power to protect their employees.   The most powerful thing they can do is not beef up security or add cameras, but add awareness and provide access to confidential reporting of suspicious behavior.

1. Stop using illegal drugs (yes that includes weed folks). It sounds so simple, but I know many young people (21-35) who pass pre-employment drug tests and think that now that they are employed and random drug testing is illegal (in CT without reasonable suspicion), that they are free to use illegal drugs, including illegally obtained prescription drugs, once they are done.  You don’t want to be the “one who has a urine bag fall out of his pants leg as he’s going in for his/her drug test.”  It’s just not worth it.
2. Get in shape.  There’s nothing worse than an employee who has what my old roommate used to refer to as “civil service ass spread” when applying for a job.  This refers to the phenomenon that happens when healthy people take sedentary jobs. Take care of your health, eat well, and lose weight, if necessary.   Let’s face it, in today’s competitive market, you want to look and feel your best if you are faced with job loss.  It’s a confidence killer and no matter what people say, lookism is alive and well.  While you’re at it, get a fresh haircut, make a visit to the dentist and get some white strips to bleach out those coffee and wine stains.
3. Update your resume now! This is a world of worker complacency.  Smart individuals update their resume every year or so to ensure that their experience and accomplishments are captured.  Many others wait until they receive official news and while in panic mode, struggle to put together a resume that captures who they are as an employee.  Get a copy of your job description, if necessary, and your performance reviews that list your accomplishments and send it to your home.   This will be helpful, especially if you aren’t really sure what you do.  You laugh, but it happens.  Get your resume DONE, have it reviewed by someone (or several folks) that you trust.  And when you do your resume, list accomplishments, not job duties.  For professional and managers, no one really cares about the minutiae involved in your day to day transactional work.
4. Network in your field of expertise.  If you haven’t been to a professional networking meeting in 5 years, you might think that now might not be the time to go, but the opposite is true.  It’s best to network when you STILL have a job.  Networking is near useless when you’re surrounded by a group of folks who are all in transition.  Network and seek out those who are still employed or those who are influential in your field.  Network online AND offline.
5. Review job postings in your field to see whether there is a demand in your area/region.  If not, consider other ways to market your skills and customize a resume that will help you move into another arena.    Analytical ability, project management, and problem solving are examples of skills that are needed in many fields.  Many employers are willing to hire someone with a different set of skills if they feel that demonstrate the competencies required for success in the job.

If you do make it through layoffs, you have done a good exercise and you have more time to continue with networking and bettering your health.  If you get laid off, think of it this way, at least you have your health!  You also are far ahead of the game when it comes to beginning your job search and have already made some of those key connections.   Oh and if you are laid off and given a decent severance, don’t postpone looking for a job until severance money has run out.  The economic outlook likely isn’t going to be any better in 6 months than it is today.  Start now and if you get a job early, you’ll have extra money to put towards your savings, bills, or most importantly, your family.