Workplace Violence

New Arenas for Violence examines the history, nature, and causal factors of occupational homicide--murder in the workplace--with a view to the development of a comprehensive understanding of the issue and the introduction of prevention measures designed to establish a safer work environment for the American worker. Through the analysis of a number of actual incidents of homicide, the author constructs a new framework for understanding occupational homicide and its perpetrators. Kelleher develops a new method of categorizing and evaluating crimes of this sort and offers an invaluable profile of the potentially violent worker or client. The book concludes with a compendium of prevention methodologies that are both practical and applicable to a wide variety of workplace environments.

Researched and written by two specialists in human resource management and workplace law, respectively here is sensible, practical advice on how to recognize, understand, cope with, and prevent a major and still growing crime in today's organizations. Their "red flag" indicators that a stalking crime is being committed, plus detailed analyses of the literature, court cases, and accounts by victims themselves, are specially designed and presented to help organizational managers create and implement successful anti-stalking and anti-harassment programs in their organizations. Schell and Lanteigne's narrative case studies make clear how victims act and react, and provide insight into the minds of stalkers. An important contribution to our understanding of a growing, extremely dangerous "happening," and an essential resource for executives and managers who have to cope with it.

In this exploration of new possibilities for the reduction of workplace violence and occupational homicide within a variety of work environments, Kelleher examines the crimes of the lethal employee or ex-employee and develops a profile of characteristics and behaviors often associated with workplace violence or murder. This profile, in turn, can be used to recognize potential violence before it occurs, allowing employers to devise early and effective intervention strategies. The author develops the profile of the potentially lethal employee through behavioral science models and an analysis of case histories of incidents of occupational homicide.

Anger in the Workplace explores what it means to feel angry at work. Anger has its origins in anxiety that arises from feeling frustrated, humiliated, or threatened at work. Anxiety creates a biological and psychological readiness to act which is guided by whether it is acceptable to feel angry at work. Employees are more likely to act responsibly if they feel that their anger is acceptable. They may also act in ways that are destructive to self, others, and the workplace if they feel that being angry is not acceptable. Managing the development of anger and its expression in the workplace is an important aspect in designing a better workplace. The book defines anger and aggression by synthesizing biological, psychological, and social perspectives. The social acceptability of anger and the fear that it interferes with judgment and results in aggression are discussed, as are sex and gender-based differences in the experience of and expression of anger and aggression. Learning to cope with anger andthe importance of owning one's anger, thinking it through, and acting upon it constructively are also discussed. Depending how anger is acted out, it can be the source of major contributions to innovation and productivity or a major blocker of change and work. The book explores how the workplace is a contributor to feeling angry because it promotes feelings of helplessness, alienation, and worthlessness. Hierarchical organization, power and authority relations, and leadership styles contribute to the development of these feelings. Desire for attachment and the fear of abandonment and desire for autonomy and fear of engulfment in the workplace must be managed to avoid anger. The book concludesby reviewing the relationship between anger and organizational dynamics.

Over the last decade or so research into bullying, emotional abuse, and harassment at work has emerged as a new field of study. Two main academic streams have emerged: a European tradition applying the concept of `mobbing' or `bullying' and the American tradition, primarily identified through concepts such as emotional abuse and mistreatment. Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace documents the existence and consequences of the problem of bullying, explores its causes, and investigates the effectiveness of approaches aimed at mitigating and managing the problem, as well as offering suggestions for further progress in this important new field.

As the United States encounters more competition in the marketplace, American companies must change in order to survive. This book is designed to be a comprehensive reference to those involved in salvaging and empowering as many employees as possible. Few managers and supervisors are adequately trained to effectively handle the diverse and complex human relations problems that characterize business and industries undergoing organizational changes. Relevant management theories and research data pertaining to these human relations issues are discussed in this book. Special attention is given to effective ways to empower employees and to handle confrontations that grow from race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and emotional differences, which often emerge when organizations grow or downsize to meet competition pressures. No other work includes such a broad approach to human relations in the workplace. Chief executive officers, managers, supervisors, and students in business management courses on university levels will find this especially interesting as they deal with the dysfunctional aspects of competition manifest in the workplace. Training and development specialists and human resources professionals will also find it necessary reading.

While print and broadcast media are filled every day with homicide accounts, the general public seems most disturbed by crimes attributed to individuals who otherwise seem "normal." Murders by those perceived to be historically non-violent often appear to erupt with no warning whatsoever. Moffatt argues that certain key predictors of a predisposition to violence are usually present. Citing case studies of workplace, school, and domestic homicides, he debunks the myth that these murders happen "out of the blue." He also includes valuable information on predicting and preventing future tragedies.

In recent years empirical studies, informal surveys and firsthand observations have all confirmed the increasing prevalence of psychopathology among our active workforce. As clinicians and employers have started to recognize that continuing to work is important for recovery, there is a growing need for a comprehensive treatment of the subject of psychopathology in the workplace. This book, written for students, practitioners, and employers responds to these needs by providing an encompassing three-part approach to these issues. Part 1 explores the interplay between psychopathology and various workplace environments, and provides an overview of the assessment and diagnosis of these disorders. Part 2 describes major forms of psychopathology commonly found in the workplace, and includes illustrative case studies. Part 3 discusses environmental and managerial interventions, and details steps that organizations can take to accommodate and motivate those with mental health needs. A unique collection of work, this text represents the most inclusive resource on the issues surrounding psychopathology in the workplace.

The justice motive is a paradox. It can promote acts of great heroism as well as heinous crimes. This book describes how a concern for justice can affect people's judgments and behaviors. The contributors explain why people are motivated to believe in a just world and describe the role this belief plays in people's everyday lives. They also describe how an understanding of justice motivation can help ameliorate social problems such as workplace violence and the failure to help innocent victims. The Justice Motive in Everyday Life will be of interest to students and scholars in psychology, sociology, political science, law and business.