Violence in the Workplace: A Personal Experience
This presentation will examine workplace violence statistics, preventive measures, and tools for managers to be aware of warning signs. In addition, Kathleen will share key steps and resources for any organization to use to enhance their Workplace Violence Prevention Program. The session will provide key steps and resources for any organization and their management team. The listing below provides some of the content provided.  Program and prevention ideas  Open communication and sensitivity training for employees  Prescreening and selection tips that lower the risk of negligent hiring  Risk and threat assessment information  Employee Assistance Programs and what they provide  Handling terminations to reduce the threat of violence Kathleen will share her personal experience with violence in the workplace tragedy at her company and the lessons she learned.
Learning Objectives:
After this session attendees will be able to:
- Know the warning signs regarding employees who could act violently in the workplace.
- Train managers and employees to recognize warning signs and alert leaders.
- Conduct training on violence in the workplace Develop and implement a workplace policy .
- Develop and implement hiring practices to reduce risk in hiring possible offenders Conduct a workplace threat and risk assessment
Kathleen H. McComber, SHRM-SCP
Kathleen is currently the President of The HeaRt Group, a human resource consulting firm, with expertise in organizational development, talent acquisition and management, employee engagement, performance leadership, compensation and benefits. She is the former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to that, she was Corporate Vice President of Human Resources at Edgewater Technology in Fayetteville, AR for five years, helping with the acquisition of 44 companies to form Staffmark Inc., later becoming Edgewater. Prior to this position she held various executive human resources positions at Acxiom Corporation, Express Human Resources and M.M. Cohn.
In her last position, she was responsible for the human resource function in the UAMS Medical Center, which has over 6500 employees, as well as campus responsibility for the operation functions that includes compensation, HR analytics, recruitment, organizational development, employee relations, affirmative action, immigration, compliance, benefits, employee services, and performance management for 11,000 employees.
The HeaRt Group’s focus is to work with small to mid-sized business owners and executives to develop Human Resource practices best aligned with their business objectives and strategic plans. The HeaRt Group provides common sense human resource advice by solving Human Resource challenges, handling Human Resource issues and partnering with clients to enhance their organization.
Ms. McComber has over 40 years’ experience in the human resource profession and has done extensive work in the areas of compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance leadership, diversity and organizational development 30 of those at the senior level.
She is a member of the Central Arkansas Human Resource Association (CAHRA) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for many years. She has served on the CAHRA board of directors twice serving as Chair. She has also served on the SHRM Board of Directors for seven years and held the top volunteer position as Chair in 1998. She served four years on the Human Resource Certification Board and six years on the SHRM Foundation Board serving as chair in 2006.
She holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Arkansas and a M.A. in Management from Webster University. She is on the faculty of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the College of Public Health and Webster University teaching leadership and human resource classes at the graduate level.