Not only do companies need to think of employee welfare in terms of smoking cessation programs, retirement planning and healthy living, companies also need to think of employees becoming victims of crime. Reducing crime to employees and customers reduces risks to an organization’
“Business owners have to take responsibility for employees and customers’ safety,” notes Larry Elliott, president of Executive Defense Technology, LLC. “By being concerned about crime, employers show that they care about their employees. They can help control their overall insurance and legal costs and they also help to control crime in the long run.”
Companies that have employees or customers who are victims of crime stand to lose money in several ways, Elliott says. From lost workdays to fines to lawsuit payouts, companies that don’t take the extra step to make sure people are safe can pay dearly. “If a company waits for something to happen, it could put them under,” he notes.
“Training helps to prevent injury, claims against employers and time away from work as well as costly verdicts against employers that have ignored these issues. Training also helps to control risk management and reduce insurance costs. “
Vice-President Paul Schmitz says, “Court case after court case show that businesses are held liable for an employee or customer being victim of a crime on their premises if those businesses did not show concern for that possibility.”
Organizations realize that employees who travel alone on company business, walk through parking garages to get to their cars, leave the business with money to deposit or work late are all susceptible to crime. From burglary to rape to murder, employees and customers can be victims of a variety of crimes. According to OSHA, which regulates workplace violence under the General Duty Clause, homicide is the third leading cause of work-related deaths. It is also noted that as many as 1 million Americans each year are victims of nonfatal work-related assaults costing US Corporations in excess of $128 billion a year. While the highest percentage of workplace assaults are in the service, health care and retail industries, incidents of violence occur in all industries regardless of race, age, or gender.”
Elliott points out that too often in American businesses a disgruntled employee or customer attacks the establishment. This example was played out yesterday, Monday, April 9, 2007 as a man suspected of shooting three people, killing one, at a suburban Detroit accounting firm from which he was fired last week was arrested after a high-speed chase a few hours following the morning attack.
“I ask my clients if they would know what to do if an armed assailant enters their businesses and most don’t,” Schmitz says. Elliott notes that by education, training and planning, employees can minimize their risks to crime. Both Elliott and Schmitz share their years of law enforcement experience to train employees about the complexities of the criminal mind and how to prevent becoming a victim, thereby saving corporations money.
The information and simple procedures they share in their one hour presentations can save lives. Visit www.execdeftech.com or call 314-894-1148 to schedule your corporate program today.
