ValueOptions® Expert: Proactive Use of EAP Can Help Prevent Workplace Violence
Norfolk, Virginia – AUGUST 10, 2010
The mass shooting at a Connecticut beer distributor last week serves as yet another “grim wake-up call” for employers to establish a violence prevention policy and to train the workforce on this critical issue, said Rich Paul, vice president of Health & Performance Solutions at ValueOptions®, the nation’s leading independent behavioral health and wellness company.
“Employers need to be heard loud and clear that they won’t tolerate the precursors to outright violence – workers who treat others poorly, intimidate or speak harshly,” Paul said.
Companies should consider leveraging their Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP professionals can proactively communicate with and educate workers about the warning signs of potential acts of violence. They also can help an employer handle issues such as terminations, layoffs or domestic violence cases that have the potential to spill over into the workplace, Paul said.
Managers and supervisors can be the first line of defense in identifying warning signs in employees at risk for acts of violence. Understanding how to make an early referral to the EAP is critical in preventing issues from escalating to a point that results in violence.
Although mass shootings often receive media coverage, there are many incidents that receive little or no coverage. In 2008, there were 528 workplace homicides in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The EAP should be involved,” Paul said, “not just in helping develop the violence prevention plan or as part of an organization’s crisis response team, but proactively in addressing issues before they result in workplace violence.”
About ValueOptions®, Inc.
ValueOptions®, the nation’s largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, manages publicly funded and employer benefit programs that cover 32 million individuals nationwide. Maintaining a national network of more than 127,000 provider locations, we partner with national and regional health plans to deliver superior behavioral health care management for their members. When working directly with employers, we are an industry leader, managing mental health and substance abuse services, employee assistance programs and a wide variety of wellness benefits for organizations of all sizes – including more than 10 percent of the Fortune 500. We also serve both military and civilian employees of the federal government with innovative programs that positively impact daily life. And, we hold public sector contracts in 14 states, providing care management services and an array of cutting-edge, community-based programs to Medicaid-eligible populations. At ValueOptions, we help our clients build a Culture of Health. We help members move down the path to wellness and embrace recovery and resiliency in their daily lives. We help people live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.
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