[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are hundreds of reasons why an employee could lose their jobs. Termination reasons may range from personal reasons such as subpar performances to reasons beyond a person’s control such as downsizing, mergers, and organizational restructuring. Indeed, multifaceted reasons go into the decision to let an employee go. However, people have different coping mechanisms and will react differently to such bad news.
Layoffs can be adversely life-changing. For this reason, employers should always remember that it can be near impossible to foresee how an employee will react to such life-shattering news. However, by staying up to date with an employee’s personal and work life, an employee can see the indicators of a possible high-risk employee and take the necessary safety precautions to protect other employees and the organization at large.
Some of the top six signs of an employee who’s likely to turn violent include:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Constant conflicts with colleagues, friends, family
- Financial distress
- Mental health issues
- Job-related complications
- Marital problems
Over the course of running a business, you may have to terminate the contract of a staff member who can potentially react violently. When aware of such a possibility, it is the work of the human resource managers to ensure they make security-conscious judgments when dealing with any high-risk terminations. Seeking revenge due to a job loss accounts for one-third of the top three factors that contribute to employees at all levels turning to workplace violence at their places of work. Measures should be put in place to deal with individuals who have exhibited a history of workplace violence or show potential signs that they could be aggressive or violent.
With the increased access to firearms, an employee termination checklist should include security precautions. The priority should always be to eliminate the possible threat of workplace violence, reducing the possible potential liability to the organization. In a high-risk termination, there are measures that can be implemented to effectively handle such scenarios and ensure employee safety. For employees who have made prior threats before their termination, a comprehensive investigation has to be done and the workplace violence prevention protocols activated before their termination.
6 Ways Through Which You Can Lower Your Risk During a High-Risk Employee Termination
For employees whom you suspect are high-risk, here are six effective tips If you suspect the employee might be dangerous here are some general tips for the termination process:
- When dealing with potential high-risk terminations, hold the meeting in a neutral location. By doing so, you’ll be avoiding exasperating the employee as they’ll feel less cornered. For cases where the employee has a history of violence and is likely to pose a risk to other you, colleagues, and the company, ensure you have a third party present during the meeting. Have security in the vicinity or in the room where the termination meeting is happening.
- Draft the termination in advance. Do not terminate on Fridays or before holidays to deny the employee the free time to plot their revenge. Statistics show that 77% of violent attackers have spent a week or more planning their attacks. To soften the blow for the employee, offer them the option for immediate outplacement service. This allows them to shift their focus to the future while also preventing them from thinking a lot about the past.
- For high-risk termination meetings, always have a desk between you and the employee. It is recommended that you sit closer to the door for your own safety. Never have a high-risk employee sit between you and the door.
- During the meeting, take your time to explain to the employee why they are being laid off and let them know it is not personal. Prepare their final paycheck before going to the termination meeting and have all the information about their benefits ready. Provide them with a number to call should they have any queries that need answering. Additionally, let the volatile employee know that they are to follow the company’s laid down complaint protocols if they have any final work-related grievances that need to be addressed.
- In a high-risk termination meeting, have security guards ready to remove the employee from the premises as fast as possible. If necessary, do not allow them to clear their workstation. Instead, you may have a supervisor do clearance on their behalf before shipping the employee their personal effects to their registered addresses. You may also consider having the employee collect their personal belongings over lunch, after work hours, or over the weekend and have management present.
- After a high-risk termination, it is recommended that you remain high on security alertness. Change locks, and passwords and deactivate their badge or keycard. Security guards manning the building should be notified of any attempted breaches.
Why You Should Hire Fast Guard Services
At Fast Guard Services, we are the most qualified and ready to assist your business. We are professionally trained and qualified to offer services such as:
- Active shooter training and response
- Verbal de-escalation techniques
- Employee termination checklist
- High-risk employee protection
- Non-physical crisis intervention
- Non-violent confrontation management
- Workplace investigations
Fast Guard Services offers assistance before, during, and after high-risk terminations. We have over 700 offices nationwide, including in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Indianapolis, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, Jacksonville, Austin, San Antonio, Sacramento, and San Jose. Fast Guard offers security services for the commercial, retail, residential, mall, school campus, cruise ships, movie & film sets, private events, and crossing guard security.
Fast Guard Services works hard to make sure that utmost safety, professionalism, and personal care is demonstrated throughout the entire process. Our company is experienced in handling security operations and our armed and unarmed guards will ensure your safety no matter the level of employee termination you are handling. Contact Fast Guard Service today via phone at 1-844-254-8273 or send an inquiry to set up a meeting to discuss your security needs, or visit our high risk employee termination page for more information.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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