Why Companies Need to Zero in on Employee-Tied Threats

Often, external physical security threats are the focal point when news comes out about physical security threats facing modern companies. The focus is often on active shooters, for instance. 

In a recent article for Security Magazine, Alan Saquella writes about a range of employee-specific threats that often go under the radar but cause legitimate day-to-day problems for many companies. Disgruntled former employees — whether laid off or fired on bad terms — pose a range of threats from physical violence to vandalism of a company’s office complex. 

A broad range of threats

“The prevalence of non-violent acts perpetrated by former employees is often underreported and underestimated, yet their impact can be just as devastating, if not more so, both financially and in terms of public safety,” Saquella writes. “For example, consider the case of a terminated telecommunications employee who sabotaged a fiber trunk line, resulting in a catastrophic communications outage that not only incurred millions of dollars in damages and fines but tragically led to the loss of a life due to the inability to reach emergency services. Similarly, deliberate tampering with natural gas distribution lines by a former employee of a gas company led to unsafe conditions and significant financial losses.”

In addressing this very broad range of rather complex, employee-specific security threats, Saquella explains that a holistic approach must be embraced — there isn’t a one-size-fits all way to handle these kinds of threats. Key among them is fostering a supportive and positive workplace environment in the first place mitigating any potential for future employee-directed violence.

 Some concrete solutions 

Saquella points to “post-termination monitoring” as one key component to making sure these kinds of retaliatory ex-employee threats don’t escalate further. This refers to discreetly monitoring former employees who might exhibit “red flag behaviors” on social media, for one example. 

Beyond this, he points to “robust softeners” like generous severance packages, continuation of benefits, and available counseling services to prevent resentments from forming. It’s better to end an employer-employee relationship positively — even if the staffer in question was far from ideal — than create a situation that can spiral out of control. 

As with any physical security threat, vigilance is key. 

“By adopting a proactive and comprehensive approach to addressing workplace violence, organizations can better safeguard their employees, assets and reputation. Collaboration between security, human resources and leadership is essential in identifying, assessing and mitigating potential threats at every stage of the employment lifecycle. From pre-termination assessments to post-termination monitoring, it’s imperative to remain vigilant and responsive to evolving risks,” he concludes. 

For more of Saquella’s recommendations, check out the full article here. 

The Importance of Making Safety Central to Any Business

Right now, the world is full of many threats to one’s physical health and wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how vulnerable so many aspects of modern society are. One big event can completely reorient people’s perspectives on safety.

That certainly extends to the workplace.

In today’s climate, any business that wants to thrive has to make safety a central tenet of its mission. In a new piece for Security Magazine, Kelly Johnstone writes about the importance of emphasizing “duty of care” in the workplace.

The term refers to “the moral and legal obligations of employers to their employees, contractors, volunteers, and related family members in maintaining their well-being, security, and safety when in the workplace,” Johnstone writes. She points to the fact that 75% of organizations surveyed in the International SOS 2024 Risk Outlook Report said that the corporate world can “expect an increase in duty of care expectations from their employees this year.”

Essentially, employees want to know they are in a safe environment.

Companies can institute a duty of care-friendly environment through a multi-pronged approach:

• Leadership has to commit — Given that a company’s leadership establishes a baseline tone for a business’s identity, Johnstone emphasizes that managers have to lead by example. This involves setting aside resources to improve safety protocols and holding people within a given company accountable if they violate the firm’s established code of conduct.

• Perform risk assessments and audits— All companies and firms have to perform risk assessments to establish the biggest potential vulnerabilities and threats their employees face. Once the major physical security risks are defined, protocols have to be established. Johnstone adds that regular reviews and audits should become the norm to ensure that standards are upheld.

• Train the team — A company can perform all of the needed risk assessments and put in place thoughtful leadership but nothing could ever be secure without proper staff and employee training. All businesses should offer employees education in hazard recognition and emergency response procedures. “It’s also important to encourage ongoing learning and skill development or enable effective handling of diverse situations and ensure duty of care is a priority of all employees, not just leaders within the organization,” Johnstone adds.

• Open up lines of communication — Staff at all levels of leadership and employment have to have clear lines of communication throughout a company. This entails creating lines of communication like anonymous reporting systems and individual team member reviews. If employees are calling out specific physical security threats that they are either experiencing or are wary of, management must be receptive and listen to feedback.

• Institute support programming at your company — A good leader in today’s modern office must institute support programs that can foster positive mental and physical health. This could mean putting in place wellness programs, team building activities, and having counseling and mental health services readily available on campus. This can prevent burnout and boost morale.

For Johnstone’s complete recommendations, head to the link here.

TSA Emphasizes Self-Defense for Crews in Push for Improved Physical Security

Much has been made in recent years of increased physical security risks that flight crews face in the skies. From belligerent passengers attacking flight attendants to technical malfunctions on planes to confusion over items some people include in their luggage, risks abound on today’s flights.

Last year, there was a very vocal push among flight crews to receive more self-defense training from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

That and other physical security improvements have been instituted at airports and on flights, Security Magazine reports. These improvements underscore just how crucial robust physical security protocols are for passengers and crews alike on today’s flights.

The TSA trained more than 5,000 air carrier crew members in proper self-defense measures. For crews hoping to take advantage of this program, the TSA has made sign-ups accessible through an online portal.

Underscoring how important this training is, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, told NBC News in 2021 just how threatening passengers have been on flights in this post-pandemic era.

“They’re treating us like punching bags, whether that’s verbally or physically, Nelson told NBC. “We have never seen this level of aggression or conflict on our planes and we really need some help.”

Outside of self-defense, the TSA has been making other physical security improvements.

In the Security article, the magazine points out that the TSA prevented 6,737 firearms from entering secure areas at airports and onboard aircrafts. One disturbing statistic — a high 93% of those firearms were loaded.

Additionally, the agency used 2,000 high-tech Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) machines to screen mobile drivers’ licenses and harness facial recognition tech. These machines are necessary for screening passengers’ credentials while also keeping privacy front and center.

Collaboration is also key. The magazine reports that the TSA has beefed up continued partnership with local, federal, and state law enforcement entities to respond in real time to threats. The report also reveals that the TSA performed 51 “various aviation-related security assessments throughout the nation” in 2023.

These statistics emphasize just how necessary fortified physical security protocols are for airports, aircrafts, and the workers and passengers who pass through and use them on a daily basis.

Just as physical security threats are becoming increasingly complex on the ground, the skies deserve just as much vigilance from security stakeholders in order to keep everyone safe.