Workplace Violence Is Top Security Threat to Fortune1000; Internet Security Rises to No. 2 Concern in Annual PinkertonStudy.

Business Editors

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2000

Workplace violence is considered the most significant security threat to American business, according to a seventh-annual survey of Fortune 1000 corporate security professionals by Pinkerton, the nation's largest security services company.

Violence in the workplace costs employers $36 billion annually and results in three deaths daily plus thousands of injuries each year, as reported by the Workplace Violence Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice, respectively.

In addition, concerns about Internet and network security jumped to second in 2000 from seventh last year. The study, "Top Security Threats and Security Issues Facing Corporate America," identified the following top 10 security threats (in rank order):

    1.       Workplace violence
    2.       Internet/intranet security
    2.       Business interruption/disaster recovery (tie)
    4.       Fraud/white-collar crime
    5.       Employee selection/screening concerns
    6.       General employee theft
    7.       Unethical business conduct
    8.       Hardware/software theft
    9.       Drugs/alcohol in the workplace
   10.       Sexual harassment

The threat of workplace violence also ranked No. 1 in Pinkerton's survey last year, but is an even greater concern today, with an average importance score 10 percent higher than in 1999. In addition, nearly one-third of the respondents specifically observed an increase in the number of violent incidents in their companies. More than 2 million people suffer violence or threats of violence at the workplace or while on duty each year, though more than half the acts go unreported, according to U.S. Justice Department estimates.

"The financial and personal impact of workplace violence on a corporation can be devastating," said Ray T. O'Hara, vice president, Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations, a workplace violence training and awareness expert.

"Although employers often perceive violence as random and unpredictable, the co-worker who `snaps without warning' is a rarity. Rather, an employee usually telegraphs discontent or anger well in advance through disruptive or threatening acts. The unfortunate irony is that managers usually know which employees pose the greatest apparent risk of violence, yet do not intervene for fear they may be overreacting.