Part 1: Could Early Childhood Sensitivity Training Help Reduce Future Workplace Violence?

You may find a figure from a recent national poll as startling as I did. In a joint study with Deloitte titled, “2008 JA Worldwide® / Deloitte Teen Ethics Survey,” which was released on Dec. 15, 2008, Junior Achievement stated in its press release:

“A new poll of 750 teens from Junior Achievement and Deloitte and conducted by Opinion Research shows that more than one-in-four teens (27 percent) think behaving violently is sometimes, often or always acceptable.”

In a few years, these teens will be in the workplace.
This information is disturbing on many levels. When these teens reach adulthood in a few years, the implications for the workplace are sobering. As quoted in the Junior Achievement press release mentioned above, David W. Miller, Ph.D., Director of the Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative, and professor of business ethics at Princeton University said: "Employers will have their hands full if a quarter of teens grow up still willing to resort to violence and other unethical behavior when it comes to making decisions about how to settle differences, protect their interests or get ahead."

Many Americans, especially employers and business managers, are growing increasingly concerned about the threats of workplace violence. The news reports are alarming and disturbing. Just recently, we learned of shooters killing workers and other innocent victims in a nursing home and an immigration center.

No business or public area is immune from workplace violence. We’ve learned of mass shootings in shopping malls, schools and university campuses. Some state legislative bodies and local governments are even considering legislation or ordinances that will allow students and/or teachers to carry guns, under certain circumstances. And some states have already passed legislation that allow workers to carry firearms to work and leave them inside their locked, parked vehicles on company-owned or controlled parking lots.

Is carrying guns to work and school the answer?
Living in one of the most diverse countries in the world, I’m starting to wonder if sensitivity or diversity training should not only be required of employees, but also required of all students in our schools. Based on what I’ve read, many of these violent perpetrators had previously expressed that they felt either shunned, isolated and/or powerless much of their lives. Obviously more sensitivity training will not totally eradicate the threat of violence in the world, but we also should not stick our heads in the sand and ignore this growing problem.

Although American employees work in one of the most highly developed countries in the world, we seem to have more than our share of horrific workplace violence incidences. It begs the question: Is there more we can be doing, possibly at an earlier and more formative age, to prevent some of these tragedies from happening?

For instance, perhaps we can do more to help educate youngsters so they learn better ways of coping with cruel behaviors such as those handed out by the ‘schoolyard bully.’  We can also take a more comprehensive approach for enlightening impressionable young minds about the sensitivities surrounding cultural diversity.

Let me be clear, however: I am not saying there is ever any justification or excuse for this kind of random violence. While sensitivity or diversity training, in the workplace, is valuable, useful and necessary; I can’t help but wonder if sometimes it is a little too late for adult employees to be learning these facts of life. 

Another answer to consider: Until there is comprehensive or more formalized sensitivity training for the early childhood years, adults can consider volunteering to spend time helping trained and qualified leaders at various youth-centered organizations such as Junior Achievement.

At my company, we see more and more individuals stepping up and making a positive difference in their communities. In Part 2 of this series to be published soon, look for practical suggestions and resources for helping young people in your communities.

Results from a recent national poll showed that one-in-four teens surveyed think that "behaving violently is sometimes, often or always acceptable."