The Reality of "Workplace Homicides"

[Paladin]

"The Reality of "Workplace Homicides"


"The circumstances of workplace homicides differ substantially from those portrayed by the media and from homicides in the general population. For the most part, workplace homicides are not the result of disgruntled workers who take out their frustrations on co-workers or supervisors, or of intimate partners and other relatives who killed loved ones in the course of a dispute; rather, they are mostly robbery-related crimes."
--National Institute for Occupational Safety And Health

Studies conducted by both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Justice Statistics show that between 75 and 82% of workplace homicides occur in connection with a robbery, such as the hold-up of a pizza delivery driver.
Robbery-related homicides in the workplace are seven to eight times more frequent than those involving fellow employees.
For workplace homicides, the taxicab industry has the highest risk--nearly 60 times the national average rate. The taxicab industry is followed by liquor stores, detective/protective services, gas service stations and jewelry stores.
The occupations with the highest homicide rates are taxicab drivers/chauffeurs, sheriffs/bailiffs, police and detectives/public service, gas station/garage workers and security guards.
Only about 1% of all workplace crime is committed by a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse of the victim, and 60% is committed by total strangers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Recently touted academic studies of workplace homicides found that there were more homicides in workplaces that allow employees to possess guns, but they failed to examine why guns were allowed.
This same research found more homicides in workplaces having video cameras. So does the presence of video cameras increase the risk of homicide? Common sense says cameras are installed in workplaces already at high risk.
Common sense is backed by sound research: as award-winning criminologist Gary Kleck has noted, links between levels of violence and gun ownership "appear to be primarily due to violence increasing gun ownership, rather than the reverse. "
Workplace policies prohibiting firearms possession by employees are no deterrent to an armed robber who brings a weapon of his own.
Employer policies that forbid firearms put employees who are at most risk from robbery--such as cab drivers and retail clerks--at greater risk by denying them the ability to defend themselves.

Posted: 8/24/2005"

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets ... spx?ID=181

[HoustonHusker]

First of all, let me express thanks for this terrific website!

I worked for a company last year that had no 'policy' against CCW's on premise, but 'strongly encouraged' those of us who had CHL's to leave them in our vehicles.

Now....the reason given for no policy against CCW's in the building was that anyone could sue them if anything had ever happened to them while working and employees were forbidden to have their CCW with them inside the building. What they failed to realize is that they were "kind of pregnant." The smart money said to bring it in with you, very discreetly, and tell no one....kind of a "don't ask, don't tell" type of attitude.

I currently bring mine in with me in a very large office complex at Richmond and Post Oak Blvd. and there are zero policies against doing so and that's as it should be.

HH