Human Resources: Executive Summary: Crime and Violence

The U.S. crime rate has improved, but domestic violence and identity theft are emerging concerns that have spilled over into the workplace. The good news is that violent crimes decreased considerably between 1993 and 2003, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. Yet, the FBI's Crime Clock indicates that a violent incident occurs every 22.8 seconds and a property crime happens every three seconds. And according to the most recent FBI data, fatal incidents are on the rise. While the nation's overall violent crime rate dropped 3% between 2002 and 2003, the murder rate increased 1.7%.

Crime and violence challenge employers on several levels: protecting employees from one another, safeguarding the workforce from outside risks and protecting employee and customer data. On average, one worker dies at the hands of a workplace attacker each week and 25 more are seriously injured, according to a USA TODAY survey. Among 224 incidents analyzed, an average of two workers were killed in each occurrence, and job termination was the motivation for most of the tragedies.

In the past, domestic violence (DV) was primarily regarded as a family-based rather than a work-related issue. But what occurs when a spouse or intimate partner arrives on the worksite with bad intent? DV is a factor in about one in five workplace homicides that claim the lives of women, the BLS reports. Among women, homicide is the top cause of on-the-job death. Of those cases, 20% were killed by their intimate partners. What's more, while those at risk may have the option of moving to another home or apartment, changing jobs is much more difficult. So, for the attacker, finding that person at work is simpler, which presents greater workplace risks.

Incidents of identity theft in which employee or customer data is compromised are also mounting. Javelin Strategy & Research reports that in 2004, 9.3 million people were victimized. In addition, fear of ID theft has prompted some customers to change banking or purchasing habits, suggests Financial Insights, a global research and advisory firm. Even before several major identity theft cases surfaced in 2005, 6% of customers surveyed had changed banks and 18% had stopped buying products online because they questioned the security of personal information.

The costs of both violent and nonviolent crime are considerable. In the U.S., the annual toll on society for on-the-job homicides averages more than $600 million, NIOSH reports. The American Institute on Domestic Violence estimates a DV toll of $3 billion to $5 billion annually, plus an additional $100 million in lost wages, paid sick leave and absenteeism.

And cases of ID theft sapped U.S. business and financial institutions of more than $48 billion in 2002, the FTC estimates. Some experts also suggest that many ID theft scams are inside jobs, in which employees prey on co-workers or customers. When those ID theft victims are employees, time spent to restore credit and resolve problems can impact attendance, productivity and even credit ratings that mar future hiring potential.

So what safeguards are companies taking? Many are tightening security policies in general, performing background checks, requiring IDs and performing video surveillance. To reduce incidents of violence on the job, many employers educate supervisors on how to recognize warning signs and provide proper referrals. To fight ID theft, they are restricting access to sensitive information, using technology to safeguard employee and customer data, revamping standard forms, and restricting the most sensitive information to HR only. And, should all else fail, companies have recognized the need to establish plans for dealing with the aftermath of crime and violence and paving the road to recovery.

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