TERESA LATINGUA PETERSON SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT

Course targets violence at work

The Sheriff's Office is offering "aggression-management" workshops to local businesses.

It's the kind of scenario the Seminole County Sheriff's Office is trying to prevent with "aggression-management" workshops offered to local businesses.

The first workshop, Thursday at AAA headquarters in Lake Mary, was attended by seven employers and organized by The Pizzuti Cos., which owns and develops properties in Heathrow.

"We were contacted by the Sheriff's Office and decided to participate because of the emergence of violence in the workplace and the trickledown effect it has on businesses and families," said Jenny Osborn, tenant services coordinator for The Pizzuti Cos.

Violence in the workplace not only takes lives; it also costs businesses money in lost productivity and legal liability.

The Society for Human Resource Management reported in 1999 that 57 percent of companies had experienced a violent incident, which is up from 48 percent in 1996 and 33 percent in 1993.

The half-day course on preventing workplace violence was taught by John Byrnes, who has a doctorate in humanities. The businessman and lecturer is founder of the Center for Aggression Management in Winter Park.

Aggression can be broken down into three phases, Byrnes said.

The first is called the trigger phase, during which something happens to make an employee feel stressed-out, anxious and unable to cope. It could be an argument with a spouse, overdue bills or even heavy traffic on the way to work.

Then comes the escalation phase when anxiety mounts and judgment deteriorates. During this period, the individual often begins to question authority, refuses to do what is asked or tries to intimidate and threaten.

Finally, in the crisis phase, there is a total loss of judgment and control. Anything is possible.

Because of this escalation, Byrnes said, employers need to intervene as early as possible to head off conflict that can lead to violence.

Knowing the warning signs and responding to them are critical, he said. For example, when a person is experiencing anxiety, there is often a change in behavior. A person might act aloof or antagonistic, spread rumors or sabotage equipment.

Above all, Byrnes stressed that threats should be treated as a red flag and never ignored.

"Please, take all threats seriously," he said.

Lt. Peter Kelting with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office is a certified aggressive management trainer who helped make the workshop possible. He said he hopes more businesses will participate in the workshops to identify problem individuals and prevent workplace violence.

"We want to help business be proactive in crime prevention and more effective at working with law enforcement," Kelting said.

Anyone interested in more information can call the Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6600 and ask for the Community Justice Coalition.