May - 2021

Workplace Violence Prevention Institute - WVPI

a not-for-profit organization

Providing Workplace Violence Prevention Research, Education and Training

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Get involved, help prevent the next school shooting before it starts

Get involved, help prevent the next school shooting before it starts

Kathleen M. Bonczyk, MBA, Esq. I am deeply concerned about the rash of attacks on schools all over the world recently, including: May 4, 2021: 3 children and 2 children were murdered by an 18 year old wielding a machete at a day care center in Saudades, Brazil May 7, 2021: 3 students and an employee were wounded by a 12 year old at a middle school in Idaho, USA. May 8, 2021: 85 people, mainly girls, were killed in a massive explosion at a high school by an unknown assailan

Columbine-like attack by trenchcoat-wearing teen shooter at Russian school leaves multiple dead

Columbine-like attack by trenchcoat-wearing teen shooter at Russian school leaves multiple dead

PREVENTION IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. Get involved. Take the 3-3 Pledge now, School safety is everyone's business. email info@workplaceviolencepreventioninstitute.org A massacre earlier today at a school in Russia bears several resemblances to the notorious April 20, 1999 attack at Colorado's Columbine High School carried out by two graduating seniors. A teenager wearing a black trenchcoat-wearing attacked "School No. 175" in the Russian city of Kazan today leaving at least 9 peo

Mass Bombing at Afghanistan High School Proves School Violence is a Global Concern

Mass Bombing at Afghanistan High School Proves School Violence is a Global Concern

In the attack that many regard as initiating the modern active school shooter/bomber era, two male students planted bombs at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 intending to blow up their school. Then yesterday May 8, 2021, powerful bombs at the Sayed Ul-Shuhada High School in Kabul exploded, killing at least 58 people, many of whom were teenaged girls. Over 150 other people have been left injured. The death toll is expected to rise as searchers continue sifting through

Essay: I was the victim of harassment by a bully, here's what I did about it

Essay: I was the victim of harassment by a bully, here's what I did about it

Kathleen M. Bonczyk, MBA, Esq. No profession is immune to harassment and discrimination. I know. I was subjected to its indignity years ago while a Human Resources executive, and again later as an attorney. I have fought for the rights of marginalized clients who might not otherwise have access to counsel so much so that after leaving a mediation session a couple years back, the mediator was overheard saying "its always about the minorities with her." An advocate for equalit

Galveston County institutes new law following Supreme Court's holding in Jones case

Galveston County institutes new law following Supreme Court's holding in Jones case

Our dear friends Scott and Flo Rice advised us of the wonderful news that Judge Mark Henry and elected officials in and around Galveston County passed the following Resolution following the U.s. Supreme Court's ruling in U.S. v. Jones v. Mississippi holding allowing for life in prison without the possibility of parole for murderers under the age of 18. As stated, this Resolution was specifically passed in light of the horrendous mass shooting that occurred at Santa Fe High Sc

Do you have a plan to keep returning employees safe?

Do you have a plan to keep returning employees safe?

Yesterday's attempted robbery which turned into an 8 hour hostage situation at a Wells Fargo Bank in St. Cloud, Minnesota follows multiple recent episodes of workplace violence across. These terrifying remind us that workplace violence can rear its ugly head anywhere and at anytime and also stands for the proposition that all employers should be on guard for potential violence. Thankfully, due to law enforcement's successful negotiations with the individual who was taken into

Further revealing workplace/school violence is a global issue: Teen kills 5 at Brazil pre-school

Further revealing workplace/school violence is a global issue: Teen kills 5 at Brazil pre-school

Yesterday, a teenager armed with a machete stabbed three children and two teachers to death at the Aquarela preschool in Saudades, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Several other children are hospitalized as a result of the attack. According to local school board official Silvia Fernandes dos Santos, the male suspect was taken into police custody after unsuccessfully attempting to stab himself to death. Photo curtesy of CNN Authorities are investigating the pos

Once again, a disgruntled terminated worker goes on a killing rampage

Once again, a disgruntled terminated worker goes on a killing rampage

We have stated repeatedly the most vulnerable point during the employment life cycle when workplace violence tends to rear its ugly head is at the time of involuntary termination, or thereafter. Unfortunately, yet another tragic case of deadly workplace violence committed by a disgruntled ex-worker has occurred - this time at the Oneida Nation hotel, casino and conference center near Green Bay, Wisconsin. A 62-year-old former employee, who had been previously ordered by a cou

Jail time, restitution ordered for employer who abused intellectually disabled employee

Jail time, restitution ordered for employer who abused intellectually disabled employee

An employee described as "intellectually disabled" and having been "enslaved" has been awarded $546,000 in unpaid wages, overtime and restitution from his former employer who was also sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019 for the abuse of his long-term worker. John Christopher "Jack" Smith, 43. started working at the family-owned J&J Cafeteria in Conway. South Carolina at age 12 in 1990, when he began busing tables and washing dishes. After dropping out of high school, Smit

General guidelines to take if you are being harassed