New Study Suggests Management Style More than Employee Personality Cause of Violence

Queen's School of Business (Canada) professor Julian Barling is the co-author of a recent study on supervisor-targeted aggression, which was published in the Journal Of Applied Psychology. Barling's findings suggest that aggression against supervisors was a result of perceived feelings of injustice and abusive supervision and not an individual's history of violence or self-esteem. He states that most organizations try to prevent violence try to exclude people through pre-employment screening and not paying enough attention to how they are treated once they are employed. The study was based on responses from questionnaires from 105 employees (78 females, 27 males) at two Canadian universities who worked two jobs, with a different supervisor in each job. Significantly, the study found that supervisor-directed aggression in one job did not translate into aggression against the supervisor in the other job, indicating that much of the aggression was due to conditions in the particular workplace as opposed to the individual's personality.

Maine Agencies to Adopt Domestic Violence Policy

The state of Maine requires its agencies to implement Domestic Violence Policies and train employees in an executive order that Gov. John Baldacci signed last year. The policies will: encourage employees to look for signs of domestic abuse in their co-workers; will offer specific help to employees suffering abuse and outline rules prohibiting any employee from engaging in any form of domestic abuse. The Department of Public Safety now has established on-line training for its 600 employees, who are mandated to complete it. The site is open to the public at www.myworkplacehelp.org.

Lower Convictions for Inmates who Assault NY Public Employee

Alton Hutchinson assault trial ended with a judgment that disappointed the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF). Hutchinson, a former Elmira Correctional Facility inmate was acquitted of the most serious charges and found guilty of 2 second-degree assault charges when he assaulted female counselor in her office. A corrections officer and co-worker discovered the attack in progress, came to her aid and ultimately may have saved her life. In a statement from PEF, “We are concerned the verdict sends the wrong message to inmates that they can continue to commit crimes while incarcerated. All too often, our members are told violence is part of the job. Getting punched, kicked or abused should not be part of anyone's job." Earlier, Governor Pataki vetoed a workplace violence prevention bill supported by PEF and passed by both houses of the Legislature. The bill would have required public employers to assess their workplaces and develop and implement prevention programs.

Half of Young Scots Serving the Public Experience Violence from Clients

Almost half of all Scottish young workers who deal with the public have been exposed to violence, according to new research. A study that is part of a campaign urging people to know their rights in the workplace also found that 31% had been verbally or physically attacked, threatened, sworn or spat at by a member of the public in the last 12 months. However, 48% of those who experience abuse viewing it as "part of the job". Fears are greatest among female workers, with one in five worried about dealing with violence at work. The research, commissioned for the Scottish Executive's Bang Out of Order campaign, was conducted among 16 to 24-year-olds during October. Respondents worked in a range of sectors which deal with the public, including hospitality, retail, fast food, healthcare, call centre and transport organizations.

WI Bill Allowing Employees to Bring Guns to Work

In the Wisconsin state legislature, the Joint Finance committee approved a bill allowing residents to carry concealed weapons in most public places except for youth sporting events; day cares; hospitals, clinics or doctor offices; public or private college campuses; nonprofit organizations that serve children, such as a YMCA; and churches. It may prohibit employers from stopping employees from bringing weapons inside the workplace, except for K-12 schools, taverns and police stations. As the bill stands now, property owners would need to post signs and orally notify every individual in order to ban weapons on their property.

10/28 Charleston, IL Woman Stabbed by Ex-Boyfriend at Substance Abuse Residential Program

Steven B. Decker, 47, is charged with attempted murder as he went to Elizabeth E. Knupp’s workplace at the Central East Alcoholism and Drug Council residential facility and stabbed her numerous times with a steak knife. She had a TRO since Sept. 12th which he violated earlier when he left her a card on her car on Oct. 17th. Knupp stated that she was afraid for her life when she realized Decker had arrived shortly before midnight. He allegedly told her not to do anything when she started to reach for a telephone. She then ran down a hallway and was knocked down as Decker stabbed her on the chest, in the stomach and hands. There was an earlier conviction for domestic battery between them.

11/04 Kitsap, WA Counselor Stabbed by Client during Home Visit

Larry William Clark stabbed Marty Smith to death as he responded to a crisis counseling call at Clark’s mother’s apartment. She had called Kitsap Mental Health Services as Smith had been off his medication. Clark, a counselor, went to the home and decided to bring him in for a mental evaluation. When Clark refused to go, Smith called 911. Clark beat Smith, according to police, then stabbed him to death with a knife.

11/20 Redding, CA Woman Plans Murder of Ex-boyfriend at her Workplace

Six people were arrested in relations to the murder of Leo Wayne Tokarz Rapp, 20. Investigators believe Rapp was lured to the workplace of his former girlfriend, 18-year-old Victoria Rose Sherman. Rapp had allegedly sexually assaulted her and that she and others devised a plan to assault him. As they were leaving town, they hit a ditch which caused the car to flip over. Responding officers then found the body in the trunk. The assault occurred in the garage of the care facility where Sherman worked.

11/12 Windsor, Canada Dr. Stabs Nurse in Hospital then Over-doses

Dr. Mark Daniel, 50, an anesthesiologist at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital stabbed Lori Dupont near the start of her day shift as she was preparing a post-surgery recovery room with another nurse shortly before 9 a.m. He assaulted her with a military style dagger and then fled the scene only to be found a short while later, dying from a overdose of drugs. The two had previous relationship but she ended it earlier this year. He was then removed from duty due to his stalking behavior and because of his suicide attempt, from which she had saved his life. The hospital reportedly had taken numerous security measures to protect Dupont but later some were eased, allegedly with her approval, even after he returned to work at the hospital. She had applied for a TRO against him back in February but the hearing for the trial was still pending while the attack occurred. Daniel later died from the overdose.

11/23 Glen Burnie, MD Former Truck Driver Returns to Shoot Supervisors at Food Distrubution Center

Joe Cobb, 54, entered H&M Wagner & Sons, a food distribution center where he worked as a truck driver and shot 2 former supervisors. Operations Manager Jack Helms was shot twice in the stomach and chief truck driver Ray Hines was shot in the arm before Cobb went outside and committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a .38 caliber handgun. He had worked at the center for 4 years before being fired several weeks ago for misconduct issues. Co-workers stated that although he made no known threats, he was alledgely hostile, had a bad temper and was going through family difficulties. The supervisors were later released from the hospital.

11/11 Houston, TX Abuser/Escapee Show Up at Nightclub Where Victim Works

Santiago J. Gonzalez, 20, escaped from a community residential treatment program that was part of probation for an assault on his girlfriend. He showed up at her workplace, a nightclub at around midnight but was not apprehended by police. Only a few hours later, he was at her apartment with 5 or 6 other men as they kicked in her bedroom and living room windows. Gonzalez and the woman have a child together.

8/04 School Supervisors Tackle Suspended Employee with Assault Rifle

Walter "Pete" Soucy and Vincent Smith received the Hartford Police Dept.’s Distinguished Citizen's Award for their heroic efforts in stopping a workplace violence tragedy. The two confronted and subdued a suspended employee who showed up armed with a loaded Colt AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. The suspect, who had three clips on him, was suspended for drinking on the job by Soucy.

11/12 Easton, MD Applebee’s Workers Shot into Van after Work

Jermiar Singletary, 29 and Deaven Smith, 27, were leaving work at the restaurant when Singletary allegedly got into an argument with a man who was waiting in the parking lot for another employee. The man alledgely provoked the workers and rammed Singletary's vehicle with his van. According to police, Singletary retrieved a gun from his vehicle and fired 3 times, once into the man's van. The firearm was later found by law enforcement and stopped the two men on another street.

8/17 Haverford Township, PA Man Stabs Wife to Death at Mattress Factory

Kevin Sullivan, 45, allegedly stabbed his wife to death while she was at work at the Verlo Mattress Factory near a shopping center. Lori Sullivan, 39, was assaulted with a hunting style knife and was struck on the right side of her neck. Police were called at 1:50 p.m. and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The next day, a witness told police that Sullivan had called him the day before at about 1:38 p.m. and allegedly said, "I f--- up. I think I killed Lori."

9/27 Crete, Greece Man Kills Wife for Custody of Son

A 50-year-old man confessed to killing his 43-year old wife. He alleges to want to reunite with her but the received a court notice regarding the custody of their youngest boy. He shot her twice with a hunting rifle as she was leaving her workplace.

10/31 Tysons Corner, VA Woman Rescued from Sexual Assault in Bathroom

Benyamen Marshall, 27, was charged with abduction as he sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom at her workplace. It was lunchtime when a few men heard screaming inside of the Ladies room. One man entered and tried to pull the Marshall off the 23-year old victim but was also assaulted. As the door was then locked, the other men had to beat down the door to rescue them. Allegedly, the doors to the bathroom had been locked, requiring a key but that procedure was dropped because of inconvenience.