The violence volcano : reducing the threat of workplace violence / David D. Van Fleet, Ella W. Van Fleet.

Includes bibliographical references.

This book's purpose is to assist all organizations and their employees in fulfilling their obligations under U.S. government regulations to reduce the risks of any and all forms of violence that affect workers during the time they are carrying out their duties as employees.--[book cover].

pt. I: Introduction -- 1. How workplace violence has grown -- Violence in organizations -- Violence in education -- 2. Costs and definitions -- Types of costs -- Magnitude of cost to business -- Imprecise definitions affect accuracy of statistics -- Defining and classifying workplace violence -- 3. How violent behavior builds: the volcano analogy -- Can we predict violent behavior?

pt. II: The environment -- 4. Environmental influences on workplace violence -- Changing sociocultural environment -- Changing norms of behavior -- Changing relationships -- Work and family interdependence -- Drugs, gangs, and organized crime -- Changing economic environment: the over-under society -- Changing business conditions -- Shrinking job market -- Political-legal changes -- Changing nature of jobs (including technological changes) -- Changing nature of workforce -- Increased diversity and presence of women -- Sexual preference, age, and other forms of diversity -- 5. Management's dealing with environmental influences -- Handling changes in sociocultural environment -- Responding to the increased use of drugs and alcohol -- Responding to changes in the economic environment -- Responding to changes in the nature of the workplace -- Responding to ineffective or problem supervisors.

pt. III: The workplace -- 6. How the workplace affects behavior -- Occupations traditionally considered hazardous -- Vulnerable organizations not traditionally considered hazardous -- Organizations disliked by fanatics -- 7. Dealing with workplace influences -- Recognize potential problems -- Identify, prioritize, and protect organizational assets -- Perform a needs assessment -- Correct security problem areas -- Establish necessary administrative controls -- Develop an early warning system -- Train and familiarize all employees with security procedures.

pt. IV: Employees -- 8. Employee factors that influence violent behavior -- Financial factors -- Personal motivations -- Job and work expectations -- Job security -- Personal identity -- Dysfunctional behavior of bosses and coworkers -- Personal and personality factors -- 9. Dealing with employee factors related to violence -- Train to recognize personal characteristics and personal history -- Recently disciplined -- History of violence -- Suspicious job history -- Unfavorable military record -- Fascination with guns and weapons -- Fanatical behavior or extremist views -- Substance abuse -- Emotional instability -- Blaming others -- No healthy way to express rage -- Heightened anxiety -- Psychosis -- Personality magnification -- Personality disorders or lack of social / family support -- Poor self-esteem and a defensive posture -- Problems in credit and driving records -- Train to recognize work behaviors and relationships -- Loss of interest in work -- Threatening behavior or words -- Malicious gossip -- Disgruntled complaints -- Attendance problems -- Property destruction or theft -- Labor-management disputes -- Uncontrollable temper and outbursts -- Concentration problems -- Requires much supervision -- Change in behavior or personal appearance -- Inconsistent work habits -- Decline in productivity or performance -- Bullying and abusive behavior -- Train to recognize how violence builds through different levels -- Take special precautions with computers -- Train to diffuse potentially violent situations -- Provide an adequate support system to prevent violence -- Behavioral observation programs (BOPs) -- Employee assistance programs (EAPs) -- Reduce social stigma -- Eliminate bullying -- Exhibit post-violence patience -- Train for emergencies when violence is not preventable.

pt. V: The organization -- 10. Organizational influences on workplace violence -- Inappropriate management styles / behaviors -- Abusive management -- Intentional mismanagement -- Management fads -- Inappropriate management policies -- Poor communication -- Management's poor relationship with employees -- Disagreeable or distressful job factors -- Pressures from downsizing / reorganizing -- Negligent attitude toward safety / health of personnel -- Negative organizational culture -- Job overload and high turnover -- 11. Dealing with organizational influences -- Develop and maintain security -- Establish a positive, hostility-free workplace environment -- Balance rights of troubled workers and other employees -- Select and train positive managers and supervisors -- Eliminate sick work environments.

pt. VI: General approaches to workplace violence -- 12. Administrative ways of reducing risks --Establish anti-violence policies -- Improve asset security -- Improve communication -- Establish procedure for reporting behaviors and threats -- Follow established disciplinary procedures -- Practice non-exacerbating termination procedures -- Provide outplacement services -- Assist with stress management -- Establish a crisis management team -- Establish an organizational crisis plan -- Establish distress signals and procedures -- Set up early-detection system -- Identify and communicate who handles problems -- Train personnel in well-defined procedures -- Prepare a post-violence trauma plan -- 13. Legal issues and law enforcement -- Responsibility and liability -- Harassment -- Stalking -- Domestic violence -- Mental disabilities and the ADA -- Approaches to reduce liability -- Jurisdictional and other limitations -- Pre-incident happenings -- When violence occurs -- Employee rights.

Appendices -- A: Organizations that assist in learning about workplace violence -- B: Example documents -- Incident self-report -- Violence prevention checklist -- C. An evaluative instrument -- Identifying your organization's propensity to elicit violence -- D: A training outline using the violence volcano metaphor.

Print version record.

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