Workplace Violence Rising, Time to Panic
A gentle word of advice: If you happen to lose your job, whatever you do don't throw a big tantrum, or you might wind up being placed under round-the-clock surveillance to make sure you don't go on a murderous rampage. That's what happened to an employee of one financial services firm who got "upset" when he was fired, even though he presumably didn't have a history of settling scores with a 9-millimeter Glock.
On the other hand, if any of your colleagues have been fired, watch out: Though you might think there'd be the occasional hint if someone harbors a propensity for bloodthirsty rage, the perps of recent workplace shootings seemed perfectly normal, warns a "safety awareness" expert.
"It makes it hard to tell ourselves that we're safe because they seem like such ordinary people in such ordinary circumstances," he points out. "It's hard for us to tell ourselves, no, that's not going to happen us." Goodness! Fashion designers, it sounds like the time is ripe for some stylish Kevlar vests in nicer colors than boring old navy and black.
