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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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American workers fear their sacked colleagues
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN American worker recently laid off by a financial services company grew so upset the firm had him followed to make sure he didn't strike out violently at his former co-workers or bosses.
"Tough times will cause people to do crazy things," said Kenneth Springer, whose company Corporate Resolutions Inc did the surveillance. "People are taking more precautions."
Indeed, stories of workplace violence are filling headlines in the United States of late - the San Diego bus mechanic who killed two co-workers or the unemployed man in upstate New York whose 12 shooting victims included a receptionist and a teacher.
Job losses, job uncertainty and slashed budgets are all pressures that could push someone over the edge.
"People are flat out concerned," said James Cawood, a security expert and author of "Violence Assessment and Intervention: the Practitioner's Handbook."
"People who are staying in companies where there has been significant downsizing ... are worried at every level. Even in down economic times, I'm doing more training now than I've done in years."
Workplace violence can range from harassment and intimidation to violence and homicides, experts say.
While economic stress can make some people violent, it won't turn just anyone into a killer, said Laurence Miller, author of "From Difficult to Disturbed: Understanding and Managing Dysfunctional Employees."
"People shouldn't be sitting around wondering if someone they've been working with for years who has been a regular guy and no real problem is going to suddenly snap and go ballistic on them," he said. "It's usually somebody that's had a long streak of problems."
"Tough times will cause people to do crazy things," said Kenneth Springer, whose company Corporate Resolutions Inc did the surveillance. "People are taking more precautions."
Indeed, stories of workplace violence are filling headlines in the United States of late - the San Diego bus mechanic who killed two co-workers or the unemployed man in upstate New York whose 12 shooting victims included a receptionist and a teacher.
Job losses, job uncertainty and slashed budgets are all pressures that could push someone over the edge.
"People are flat out concerned," said James Cawood, a security expert and author of "Violence Assessment and Intervention: the Practitioner's Handbook."
"People who are staying in companies where there has been significant downsizing ... are worried at every level. Even in down economic times, I'm doing more training now than I've done in years."
Workplace violence can range from harassment and intimidation to violence and homicides, experts say.
While economic stress can make some people violent, it won't turn just anyone into a killer, said Laurence Miller, author of "From Difficult to Disturbed: Understanding and Managing Dysfunctional Employees."
"People shouldn't be sitting around wondering if someone they've been working with for years who has been a regular guy and no real problem is going to suddenly snap and go ballistic on them," he said. "It's usually somebody that's had a long streak of problems."
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