December - 2017

12/29/17: 5 dead 1 wounded in 2 attacks of workplace violence by disgruntled ex-employees

Two former employees returned to their former workplace 1500 miles apart to kill at about the same time yesterday afternoon December 29, 2017. The carnage in California and Texas left a total of five dead and one person struggling for life. In both cases the gunmen took their own lives after shooting at two others. CALIFORNIA The first episode occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m when a former-employee said to be a terminated partner shot two partners at the law firm of Perona,

The Harassment of Nurses: My 1st Employee Safety Article Published in 1995

OSHA says 80% of reported violence suffered by nurses comes from patients. The first workplace violence article I ever wrote dealt with the harassment of nurses. It was published over 30 years ago when I served as Director of Human Resources for a home health care agency. Over the years I've written countless articles for many periodicals and organizations such as the Florida Bar’s newsletter The Checkoff, BLR, NBI, Lorman, Claims Magazine, the National Underwriter, and PLRB

Anti-bullying advocate Deb Falzoi opens up re: her experiences with bullying

Foreword: We asked anti-bullying advocate and expert Deb Falzoi to write a guest blog for us dealing with her experiences as a victim of workplace bullying. Deb is a role model and a leader who said "NO" to bullying. Deb not only refused to allow bullying control her, she did something and continues to do something about it a decade after being targeted for mistreatment by a superior. We know Deb's experiences will help others who may currently be dealing with this form of w

The Forensics of Bullying - Part II

On December 26, 2017, we published Part I of Workplace Violence Prevention Institute Think Tank member and forensic psychologist Dr. Robert L. Tanenbaum's presentation on school and work-based bullying. Dr. Robert Tanenbaum - Forensic Psychologist and Workplace Violence Prevention Institute Think Tank member. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Tanenbaum conducted this presentation at the WVPI September 2017 conference in New Jersey and graciously a

My hero Jane

"Kathy...what's the temperature in Florida this morning?....71 and sunny you say?...Why it's 17 degree below zero here and that's not even factoring in the wind chill factor!" So joked my beloved friend, fellow mother and bullying/workplace violence prevention advocate Jane Brady Nosal from the upper peninsula in Wisconsin where she'd just celebrated Christmas with her wonderful eldest child Amy. Jim, Caroline forever 24, Amy and Jane Brady Nosal. We discussed our goals for t

WVPI's Founder to Deliver Florida Bar Accredited Course to Attorneys

Kathleen M. Bonczyk, Esq. founder and president of the Workplace Violence Prevention Institute will deliver a 2.5 hour continuing legal education unit online presentation to attorneys on January 23. 2018 at 2:00 p.m. entitled "Workplace Violence." The course is accredited by the Florida Bar for 2.5 CLE credits (General) and Certification Credits (Labor and Employment Law). Attendees will learn about Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 whic

The Forensics of Bullying

WVPI think tank member and forensic psychologist Dr. Robert L. Tanenbaum conducted an eye-opening presentation on school and work-based bullying at our September 2017 meeting in New Jersey. Dr. Tanenbaum has graciously authorized us to publish the slides from his presentation. The following is Part I focusing on bullying in the schools: Look for part II of Dr. Tanenbaum's presentation on Friday on this blog.

Naked Employee Facing Discharge Kills Two Post Office Superiors

Authorities report that a 24 year old employee facing termination entered an Ohio post office just before 4:30 a.m. on December 23, 2017 and shot and killed his 52 year old immediate supervisor Lance Herrera-Dempsey. Then at approximately 7:15 a.m. the suspect named DeShaune Stewart who was scheduled to work his mail route later that day was the subject of a 911 call regarding a man seen chasing a woman with a gun outside an apartment complex approximately four miles from the

Remembering Kenneth Suttner

One year ago today high school senior Kenneth Suttner took his life. The cause of death was determined to be "bullying." I have lectured and written about Kenny's tragic loss many times in the past year including for the National Underwriter/Claims Magazine, a periodical for insurance industry professionals. My aim was to inform them first of Kenny's death and of the prospective legal exposures associated with bullying in my continuing effort to educate those in positions of

WVPI Research

The Workplace Violence Prevention Institute (WVPI) will publish research on the growing tragedy of employee-on-employee occupational murders in 2018. This study entitled "The Killer in the Next Cubicle" evaluates workplace violence perpetrated by individuals known to the victims and their employers, and that occurred from 2009-2017. The research will include case studies, profiles of the victims and perpetrators, statistical information including costs associated with workpla

Workplace Violence Prevention Institute - WVPI

a not-for-profit organization

Providing Workplace Violence Prevention Research, Education and Training