Increasingly, American workers have heavier loads and are under constant stress due to the risk of falling victim to corporate downsizing. Also, the longtime loyalty between employer and employee that used to be the norm no longer exists in many places, Feldman said. Employers must become much more aware of the signs of potential violence, Feldman said. Awareness of trouble is key, Rick Gardner agreed. You're taking people out of their comfort zone.
Some people are more adaptable to that than others.
Over the years, experts have developed a generalized profile of the kind of person who may hurt or kill fellow workers. He is, first of all, male. He is white, 25-50 years old and has a history of violence and substance abuse, Feldman said. If he is married, the relationship is troubled. He is a loner and has had disputes with management, often involving workers' compensation.