Preventing acts of violence is much preferred and more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath. It’s essential that we train employees to recognize pre-incident indicators and report them before an act of violence occurs, but it is also critical to have a plan in place to respond should the unthinkable happen. Whether it be angry customers, disgruntled coworkers, domestic violence issues that spill over into the workplace, or an individual stressed out and fed up who chooses your office and your employees to terrorize, we must be equipped to handle whatever walks through our doors.

What happens when it happens? Unfortunately, it’s not a question of if, but a question of when. When discussing the recent increase in active shooter events, we can say with certainty that someone somewhere is currently planning the next attack. Whether it’s a disgruntled employee, an enraged ex-domestic partner, an angry terminated employee, or a violent criminal with no regard for his life or anyone else’s, we cannot ignore the possibility that our workplace could be impacted. We will continue the discussion of prevention and move further into training for response to violence and preparing for the aftermath. Time spent on prevention and response training is crucial, but how much time have you devoted to dealing with the aftermath of a robbery or a violent event? Consider the consequences of being unprepared.