Violence Related to Economy?
It’s hard to ignore the number of mass murders in little more than a week. There’s speculation that this violence is somehow related to the bad economy. There’s evidence that some of the shooters were upset by recently losing a job, but there’s usually more to it than that.
No workplace is immune from violence. Every employer should have a plan for dealing with violence at work — to make employees vigilant, to prevent the violence, to minimize it, to help employees deal with the aftermath. It’s often said that if someone has decided to commit a violent act, there’s not much that can be done ultimately to stop it. That may be true, but all employers must be as prepared as possible to effectively confront it.
Interestingly, even as this violence is burgeoning, state legislatures are considering laws to give citizens more leeway to possess weapons, and there’s a shortage of ammunition across the country, because citizens fearing violence (and President Obama) are buying and hoarding it. I don’t know whether it’s the economy’s fault, but there is a bit of madness in the air.
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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