The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business - Episode Four - More Indicators of Terror Podcast By cover art

The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business - Episode Four - More Indicators of Terror

The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business - Episode Four - More Indicators of Terror

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Hello and Welcome to The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The authors are David J. Smith and Mark D. Silinsky. This is a Rothstein Publishing product. These are podcasts analyzing the intersection of today’s business practices and international terrorism. They are brought as a courtesy of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to national security. In this fourth podcast in the series, we continue to identify indicators that a worker may commit violence. Aggression or Threats Toward Coworkers Sometimes, anger goes beyond words. An employee might clench their fists and snarl while discussing political or social issues. Each employee has their own personal struggles and concerns. Sometimes, personal issues are brought into the workplace. There are issues you can address. A troubled employee might need some time off, counseling, or simply a boss willing to listen. However, if the anger is unexplained or driven by religious or racial themes, you could face a serious problem, and you should act immediately. Be very careful in handling this, and ensure you document the event. Notify higher management levels. The Alton Nolen and Nidal Hasan cases are good examples. Presence of Unauthorized Weapons How easy is it for a troubled employee to bring a weapon onto your company premises? You need to understand your company’s rules regarding weapons. There is no universal policy; different companies have different standards. In some parts of the U.S., employees might keep a rifle or shotgun in their vehicle’s rack, especially during hunting season. It may be common for employees to go bird shooting in the late afternoon at local blinds. Your company might see this as a local tradition and be okay with firearms as long as they stay in the vehicle. Others prohibit any firearms on the premises. Still, some allow certain employees to carry firearms under specific conditions. If your company is one of those, make sure the policy is clear. In the Nolen case, at least two weapons were involved. Nolen used a large knife to kill, but he was shot by a man legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon. Does your company have a policy on employees carrying a concealed handgun? It’s important to know, and your employees need to know too. Employees should understand what management considers a weapon. What you see as a pocketknife might be regarded as a weapon by someone else. Work with security to create a clear and shared understanding of how your company defines weapons. Encourage employees to inform security or their supervisor if they have concerns. Attempts to Communicate with Known Extremist Groups There is an old adage that a man is judged by the company he keeps. Men and women in your organization certainly belong to a wide variety of groups that include religious, political, athletic, social, and volunteer organizations. However, some groups have dark agendas. If these groups operate through legal channels, they may not pose a problem for your company. It is often not illegal to be a member of organizations that many people would consider extremist. But if they advocate violence or try to subvert American laws or values, they could cross into illegal activity. It can be very difficult to determine if one of your employees is connected with an extremist group or if that connection poses a security risk for your business. However, if one of your employees communicates with an extremist organization during work hours, they are forcing the issue. It will help you to become familiar with sources that indicate what some people consider to be extremist or hate organizations. For example, the two sources below are controversial and have been both praised and criticized. You may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with these and other sites. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a left-of-center advocacy group that monitors what it considers hate groups in the US. Its director has enough credibility to be asked to testify before Congress. You may find its list of hate groups useful. The Center’s critics say that it has politicized terrorism and underestimates the threat of radical Islam.Another source is Jihad Watch, run by Robert Spencer. He has written many books on militant Islam. His website offers valuable links that can provide information on terrorist groups in the area you plan to visit or invest in. Terrorism or Workplace Violence or Both? Fort Hood: Initially, the victims didn’t know who was shooting. Shots rang out, soldiers fell to the floor, and people screamed. On November 5, 2009, Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who had embraced fundamentalist Islam, brought two handguns to a facility for soldiers going to and from Afghanistan. The shooter began shouting “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is Greatest” in Arabic, and then started shooting anyone in uniform. When the chaos ended, 13 men and women were dead, and ...
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