Risky Business: Managing Employee Violence in the Workplace
Almost one million violent crimes occur in the U.S. workplace every year, according to McClure. Murder in the workplace is the fastest-growing type of homocide in the nation, with 15 murders reported each week. Yet only one in four businesses provides formal training in dealing with workplace violence. The author has attempted to translate the existing, overly technical information regarding employee psychopathology into terms more easily understood by managers. Eight chapters describe patterns of high-risk behavior that, the author purports, are warning signs. Subsequent chapters cover, in too little detail, the procedures managers should follow or avoid to prevent or react to potentially dangerous employee behavior. Nonmanagerial readers may resent the emphasis on employee psychopathology while, with rare exceptions, employers are depicted as bastions of integrity and mental health. Others may see little connection between many of the rather commonplace employee behaviors cited and the potential for danger. Nevertheless, this book will provide managers with some insights into the prevention (not "managing," as stated in the subtitle) of workplace violence. Recommended for larger business collections.?Alan J. Farber, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalbCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.