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Can We Learn From Tragedy?


Another tragedy involving workplace violence and loss of life.  Every year an event of this nature and magnitude strikes on a campus or on the job...  This time in Connecticut at a family-owned business.  

And now we are hearing comments and questions about workplace bullying, racism, and lack of attention by management.  Could this nightmare have been avoided?  We will never know, but I believe the answer is simple - Of course it could have been avoided.  At least the loss of life could have been minimized.  While families and co-workers grieve their losses, this is not the time nor place to point fingers and second-guess those involved in Connecticut.

However, we owe it to ourselves to eventually learn something from these events.  Misconduct (theft) in the workplace is unacceptable. Workplace bullying is very real and must be intercepted and stopped.  Proper procedures must be in place prior to and during employee terminations or lay-offs.  Racism cannot be tolerated and must be investigated and eliminated.  No business owner or manager will disagree with those statements, and the warning signs are often there. Yet, most companies don't do enough to protect each other.  In a flash, it's too late.

Remember, before we ever become employees of any company, we are all human beings first...

As always, let us know if we can help.

- Lou G.

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 8/6/2010 10:40 AM | Add Comment

More On Bullying


We've written here before about bullying in the workplace.  The statistics are compelling as to how pervasive workplace bullying has become.  And now the legislature in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is taking up the debate and is poised to take historical steps toward preventing and halting bullying of children in our schools.

Unfortunately, it took the suicide of a teenage girl and the lack of responsiveness by her town's public school system to stir the debate. Now, people from all points on our societal spectrum are weighing in.  The discussions have become very complex and passionate, including the topics of cyber-bullying, parental responsibilities, teacher and administrator obligations, protection of alleged perpetrators, proper punishment, legal repercussions, TV & movies, video games, and so much more.  Overwhelmingly, the consensus is that bullying in our schools must stop, and that our lawmakers will be required to put in place the legal measures to ensure the health and safety of our children.  Nothing positive can come from a young girl taking her own life, but we must learn and improve as a society from tragedies such as this one.

As someone who has frequently witnessed and dealt with workplace bullying, I have often wondered what the workplace bully was like when he or she was a child and whether they could have been a victim or a perpetrator of bullying in school.

As always, let us know if we can help.

- Lou G.

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 3/1/2010 2:50 PM | Add Comment

Happy New Year!


Yesterday was one of those rare dates (a numerical palindrome), 01-11-10.  Makes you stop for a few seconds and reflect...

Anyway, my reflection has been that as we begin 2010, we continue to live in a challenging and often dangerous world. During a traditionally peaceful time of year, a would-be terrorist attempted to detonate a suicide/homicide bomb in the skies above the U.S. Were it not for the courageous act of another passenger aboard that plane, we could have experienced a terrible disaster, claiming many lives and fueling our deepest fears.

The Dutch passenger reacted instinctively and impulsively to thwart a potential disaster.  I have heard that the heroic passenger has made some attempts since Christmas to profit from his deeds, and I hope that he has abandoned that effort.  Regardless, we need more of these heroics - people simply doing the right thing.  Too often in our contemporary pop culture, people strive to be famous and profit simply for dating, getting married, having children, finding a job, getting into trouble, stopping a crime, or just showing up at the right place at the right time.

Here's my idea... Make yourself famous with a young girl or boy for teaching them how to hit a baseball or do long-division, become famous with a whole bunch of people at a local senior center by calling a Bingo game, gain fame with an anonymous driver on the highway by letting him go ahead of you in traffic, and make a friend for life by visiting the local animal shelter to walk a homeless dog. Yes, we can go on and on with examples of potential good deeds and what a wonderful world it would be.  Work hard, help others when you can, take care of your family and friends.  It's a simple recipe.

It feels great to make a difference, doesn't it?  The opportunity for any of us to be a hero may be right around the corner.

Mr. Zig Ziegler, the motivational speaker, always said, "You can get anything you want out of life by helping enough people get what they want in life".  I sincerely believe that!    

Happy 2010!!!  As always, let us know if we can help.


- Lou G.

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 1/12/2010 11:52 AM | Add Comment

Maintaining Your Standards


During the past few weeks and days the names Kanye West, Roman Polanski, Michael Vick, and David Letterman have triggered salacious stories and accounts of celebrities behaving badly in their personal lives and even committing criminal acts.  Now, whether we agree with their actions, what these folks do in their personal lives is their business - if they break the law or affect the well-being or safety of others, they should be held responsible.

A relatively new phenomenon has been celebrities, high-profile athletes, and politicians falling on their respective swords in public, often during press conferences and television appearances, complete with tearful remorse.  In my opinion, most of the remorse we see is related to getting caught rather than having put themselves and others in a bad place at the outset.

People do bad things and get into trouble every day, some worse than others, some more habitually than most.  My concern has been the inexplicable tendency of TV and movie celebrities and the general public to give movie stars, TV stars, directors, athletes and other high-profile celebrities something of a free pass.  Is this an informal fraternity where they look they other way for each other?  Why would someone want to redefine rape, animal cruelty, employee harassment, or other intolerable behaviors in a way that allows a celebrity to just walk away or be forgiven in a way that you would not see elsewhere?  Just becasue they entertain us once in a while?  Does that justify their actions?  What if the local landscaper exhibited such poor behavior?  Would we be just as willing to forgive?

Let's not compromise our standards for ourselves and others just because someone is "famous".  We teach our children to know right from wrong.  ...and most of us know right and wrong when we see it.  Right?

As always, let us know if we can help...

- Lou G.  

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 10/2/2009 11:34 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Stay Alert


We have written on this topic in previous posts, but the recent shooting at a health club just outside Pittsburgh, PA is a reminder to always be aware of your surroundings.  This incident has been referred to as a "random" shooting, but the fact of the matter is that the gunman had obviously been planning this for months.  His victims may have been random (we still do not know for sure), but his intent has become clear.

Whether it is the workplace or a social setting, alone or in a group, simply take note of your surroundings and don't be afraid to ask (or shout) for help if you feel any threat or danger.  A little embarrassment is a small price to pay if your instincts were not perfectly on target.

The economy is being to show signs of improvement, and let's hope the stress levels at work decline as a result.  We keep a very close eye on the workplace where these situations may become serious, but we need to be alert wherever we go.  Who knows, if you stop texting and look around, you may see something you like.

Let us know if we can be of service.

- Lou G.

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 8/7/2009 11:08 AM | Add Comment

Value


The current economic conditions have caused us all to scrutinize our wants, needs, desires, expenses, and so forth.

It is not uncommon to see someone pay $200 a month for cable television or $300 a month for an auto lease without ever considering cutting back on those items.  We shouldn't judge anyone for creating their own priorities and living their lives as they wish, but my concerns are when I see a client or prospective client questioning the need for necessary professional services because they have difficulty justifying the costs.

As a professional services firm, we are always careful in what and how we charge our clients - ensuring that they will receive the highest value for their dollar.  If the added value is there, it is likely worth the expense.  I believe we all can apply that test to nearly everything in our lives, and make the right decisions during these difficult times.

Let us know if we can be of service...

- Lou G.

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 6/15/2009 9:36 AM | Add Comment

Take Control


The increasing number of stories involving violence in the workplace is alarming.  Downsizing, reductions in force, lay-offs, furloughs, lack of pay increases, and more have us all on edge.  Some people have simply reached the ends of their ropes during these difficult economic times, and the violence spills out onto innocent people around them. 

However, for employers this problem is not necessarily beyond your control if you keep a few components active within your workplace programs.  Remember, most people will obey the rules, and those who may commit violence will often exhibit signs before acting out.

Keep the following in mind to take a preventative approach...

1.     Screen out potential violence during your selection/hiring process.  It can be done under normal and acceptable guidelines.
2.     Have a written policy in place regarding violence and threatening activities.  Zero tolerance is always recommended.
3.     Assemble a crisis management team with representatives from HR, Executives, Medical, Operations, and other key functions.
4.     Train your supervisors and front desk greeters.
5.     Promote compliance.


Not all workplace violence can be prevented or stopped, but a few reasonable steps can make a difference. If one life is saved, it will be worth any amount of effort and expense.

As always, let us know if we can help.

- Lou G.


Posted by Lou Gaglini at 4/17/2009 9:39 AM | Add Comment

Let's Be Careful Out There!


Needless to say, these are challenging times that can become difficult... and eventually desperate for some people.  As a Human Resources professional, I have had the opportunity to see people at their very best as well as at the lowest points in their lives. Sometimes stress at work can spill into the home and family life, or problems at home and life in general can find their way into the workplace.  

Today I read of two separate accounts of the types of situations that are confronting people around us.  In one story, a man murdered one of his own daughters after job loss and financial worries drove him into a fit of rage.  He ended one life, and the rest of his life is destined to be spent in prison.  Meanwhile, in France, a small group of employees was holding the CEO of their company hostage in the workplace.  Not sure what their demands could be, but this will not have a happy ending - and one can only hope that no one gets hurt.

We average close to 50% of our waking lives working or commuting to/from work.  Recent events prove that anything can happen, so be aware of yourself and the people around you.

- Lou

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 3/31/2009 11:32 AM | Add Comment

Workplace Bullying


The research is just beginning to surface and become noticed...  a phenomenon known as "Workplace Bullying" is becoming more of an issue for companies and their employees, affecting an estimated 54 million United States employees, according to a recent study conducted by Zogby International.  That's approximately 37% of all employees in the U.S.!!!

Some of the more startling data coming out the research indicates that there is an unexpectedly high incidence of women-on-women bullying and that some workplaces actually condone such behavior, believing that it fosters competitiveness and is a necessary and acceptable manner in which to conduct business.  The reality is that such behavior leads to unwanted turnover, absenteeism, health care utilization, and litigation... all affecting the corporate bottom line, employee morale, and workplace productivity.

Our talented team of investigators has experience in addressing workplace bullying and other detrimental employee misconduct. 

Let us know if we can help.

- Lou

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 2/2/2009 5:49 PM | Add Comment

Impact of the Economy


Earlier this month I wrote of the impact the weakening economy and the current recession can have on personal and professional lives as well as the impact it can have on your business.  Sure enough, a feature entitled "Golden Eyes - The private detective business is thriving not just in spite of the recession - but because of it" appeared in the The Boston Globe just a few days later.  The DiNatale Detective Agency of Boston and the LPDAM were interviewed for the story.

I don't claim to be able to predict what could happen to you personally or to your business, but a worthy investigator uses common sense as much, if not more than any other skills and abilities in his or her arsenal.

As NEICS specializes in employment related matters, we all need to be in search of the truth.  If an ex-spouse is claiming an inability to earn an appropriate level of income in order to support children, we can investigate that and work with the legal team to identify and testify to the truth about employability and hireability.  If a potential or current employee may have falsified his or her application, potentially putting your organization at risk, we can work with your HR team to verify the information on file and assist in taking corrective measures.

Again, these are times when people may feel a sense of desperation and may take the wrong steps in an effort to better position themselves.  It could put you, your family, or your business at risk.  Let us know how we can help.

- Lou

Posted by Lou Gaglini at 1/19/2009 12:32 PM | Add Comment
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