Employee Meetings for HRProfessionalsEmployee Meetings for HRProfessionals

Safety Considerations

Tom Brandon, CPP, CUSA

May 2010 SDSU CES

Why we’re here…Why we’re here…

Employee meetings can become unsafesituations

HR professional need to be able to recognizesigns that an unsafe situation could bedeveloping

We need to have a plan

We need to know what resources areavailable

Common Indicators /Troubled Employee(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Common Indicators /Troubled Employee(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Harsh criticism ofothers or self

Difficultyconcentrating ,remembering, thinking,problem solving,decision-making.

Ruminating about asituation;excessivepreoccupation.

Negativity

Inability to receivecriticism and/orcompliments.

Excessivevigilance andpreoccupationabout breach ofrules orprocedures.

Common Indicators(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Common Indicators(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Marked change inusual manner,patterns, orgrooming.

Irritability,belligerence,hostility,insubordination,anger, tempertantrums.

Excessive use ofalcohol,drugs;compulsivegambling

Avoidance ofsituations andproblem solving.

Consistently non-compliant,uncooperative.

Common Indicators(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Common Indicators(Respond & Refer As Appropriate)

Extreme moodswings;

Unpredictability

Problems withperformancedespite adequatetraining andmotivation.

Overwhelmingemotional pain.

Blocked emotion,can’t feel anything

Stuck feelings;can’tget beyond anger,disappointment,sadness, guilt overtime.

Preparation: Coordinate EmployeemeetingPreparation: Coordinate Employeemeeting

Plan conference room and “exit strategy”

“Zero” tolerance…always plan forcontingencies

Streamline the discussion

Minimize exposure

Preserve dignity

Be clear about return visits to Companyproperty

Plan a de-brief with security, employee’sleader(s)

Respect

Dignity

Attention

Resolute

Firm

Confident

Safe Dialog TipsSafe Dialog Tips Have a plan

Room set-up

State a purpose

Have a coordinator (outside)

Propose “choices”– “If we are going to continue this

conversation, we need to:___”

Be in control:– “A reminder, we are here to discuss…”

Be concise– Some venting can be good.

– A rambling rehash of events is not.

Safe Dialog continued…Safe Dialog continued…

Assertiveness

– Confident eye contact

– Not challenging “stare down”

Not Challenging

– Ask—don’t tell

– Choices (again)

– “Business people making decisions,choices”

Aggressive Body Language:Aggressive Body Language:

Facial signs: bared, gritting teeth,sneers, snarls

Eyes: hard glare, staring, longgaze

Attack Signals: clenched fists ,lowering & spreading of body, redface (fight or flight)

Exposing: “I dare you” includesnot looking at the interviewer

Facial signs: bared, gritting teeth,sneers, snarls

Eyes: hard glare, staring, longgaze

Attack Signals: clenched fists ,lowering & spreading of body, redface (fight or flight)

Exposing: “I dare you” includesnot looking at the interviewer

Insulting Gestures: The obvious,but also chin tilts, etc.

Sudden Movements: with all of theabove

Mock Attacks: symbolic, power,“See, I could have…”

Touching: form of invasion, control.

Approach: entering interviewer’sspace

Personal Space: What’s yours?

Trust your Intuition:Trust your Intuition:

Cavemen/women—we’re wired that way.

Processing facts takes time, time--is notalways our friend (e.g.: about to get eatenby a dinosaur)

Act on that feeling

Later on—you can analyze the input.

Get out and

– get to a safe place

– Warn others (cell phone)

– Determine next steps, escape, evasion,“shelter-in-place…”

Aggressive BehaviorAnticipated:Aggressive BehaviorAnticipated:

“Paid suspension”

Have discussion on phone

Mail; checks

Remove reasons for office visits

Ship personal items

Ongoing dialog with HR, havesecurity professional handlediscussions—dissociate

Consequences of TerrorThreatConsequences of TerrorThreat

Misdemeanor: the court can impose probation(informal) with or without jail time, communityservice, physical labor, counseling, restitution(paying the victim), fines ($200 to $2,000), and “stay-away” orders. A conviction also results in the personhaving a permanent criminal record.

Felony: In California a terrorist or criminal threat ispunishable by up to three years in state prison.Criminal or terrorist threats are considered a “strike”under California’s Three Strikes Law.

Criminal or Terrorist Threats CA Penal CodeSec 422

1. The accused willfully threatened to unlawfully kill or unlawfullyinflict great bodily injury on another person

2. The accused made the threat with the specific intent that it betaken as a threat

3. The threat is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, andspecific as to convey a gravity of purpose and the immediateprospect of execution (the person was very clear and specificabout carrying out the threat)

4. The threat actually caused sustained fear in the victim (for "aperiod of time that extends beyond what is momentary,fleeting, or transitory")

5. The sustained fear was reasonable

CA Penal Code “Stalking”646.9CA Penal Code “Stalking”646.9

(a) Any person who willfully, maliciously, andrepeatedly follows or willfully and maliciouslyharasses another person and who makes acredible threat with the intent to place thatperson in reasonable fear for his or her safety,or the safety of his or her immediate family isguilty of the crime of stalking, punishable byimprisonment in a county jail for not morethan one year, or by a fine of not more thanone thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both thatfine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment inthe state prison.

If you experience a threat…If you experience a threat…

Report to management

Report to Law enforcement if appropriate.

– Is a penal code violation committed?

– An incident report will be recorded.

Continue to report…

TROs Temporary Restraining Orders

– Consider the effectiveness.

Questions?Questions?