Apollo Communications provides technical support services to several major companies engaged in landline, digital, and satellite communications. Due to the nature of Apollo’s business, it employs numerous technical experts who are difficult to retain because of their high-demand status. During a hiring surge initiated after Apollo took on several large new customers, the company hired a new employee, Bob Jones. Before being offered the position, Jones interviewed well. Moreover, his criminal, credit, employment, and academic histories were subjected to Apollo’s pre-employment screening process. Although many of Jones’ previous employment positions had lasted less than a year, Apollo hired Jones because managers believed that he had the technical expertise the company needed. However, within a few months, it became obvious to Apollo that Jones did not have the level and type of technical expertise his credentials had promised. Jones was terminated before the end of his probationary period. Subsequent to his termination, Jones sent threatening emails to former coworkers. Futhermore, employees often encountered Jones in the company’s parking lot as they ended their workday. On several occasions, Jones confronted and verbally threatened his former supervisor in the parking lot.
1. In your view, could a defective pre-employment screening process have led to Jones’ hiring? If so, in what respects might the screening process have been defective?
2. If you had been involved in the process used to hire Jones, what warning signs would you have noticed and investigated?
3. Did Apollo exercise poor judgment when hiring Jones? If so, what may have led to the poor judgment? For example, could feelings of pressure to enhance staff quickly to serve new customers have caused hiring managers to overlook warning signs they normally would have noticed? If Apollo had successfully hired large numbers of new people in the past, could those involved in the hiring process become complacent?
4. In your opinion, how likely is it that Jones could become violent? Explain your reasoning.
5. How would you advise Apollo to respond to Jones’ threats? Draw on what you learned in this chapter, including suggestions for securing office buildings, assessing the likelihood that someone in the workplace could become violent, and preventing workplace violence.
6. Who do you think should bear the primary responsibility for preventing workplace violence— employers? local law enforcement? mental health professionals? Explain your thinking. In what ways (if any) could these and other stakeholders work together to prevent workplace violence more effectively?