News & Views from...  Donna's Corner:   Be Proactive, Not Reactive Every Day in the US Workplace: 16,400 threats are made 723 employees are assaulted 43,800 employees are harassed 2.7 employees are murdered Bureau of Labor statistics What could workplace conflict be costing your company? Lost wages Staff time/replacement Insurance costs Legal fees Settlements Damage control Security Productivity Morale Customer/client relations Your reputation What are clients saying about Donna Scimia? "As the Northeast Regional Training Coordinator, I've hired Donna to train human resources staff, all levels of management, and employees from manufacturing plants to corporate offices. Her excellence in training and her keen understanding of the clients' needs have made her a client favorite and an asset to our organization. We keep calling her back for more!" -- Anita Aherne, Magellan Health Services, Inc. Visit www.scimiaconsulting.com for more testimonials To find out more about preventing workplace liability and our training and consulting services, please contact Donna Scimia at: Scimia Consulting Group 3 Church Street, #2-0 Pleasantville, NY 10570 Phone: (914) 747-2960 dscimia@scimiaconsulting.com www.scimiaconsulting.com   Our Mission at Scimia Consulting Group: We want your organization to be one of trust, mutual respect, and civility….Because a Healthy Workplace is an enthusiastic, productive workplace!     Scimia Consulting Group's Newsroom : A common sense approach to workplace liability is a must. The glaring headlines parading multi-million dollar rewards resulting from employee lawsuits have many companies feeling a bit uneasy these days. Do you have workplace violence, sexual harassment, and other related policies? Are bully bosses tolerated? Rewarded? Are your managers trained to deal with workplace conflict? A proactive approach is always best when considering the impact of workplace unrest.. Read more in Donna Scimia's recently published article: "A Common Sense Approach to Reducing Liability in Today's Workplace". Employee Relations Law Journal (August 2007) Are you liable if you hire someone then rescind the offer? It's important to protect your company from fraud, breach of contract, and promissory estoppel in these situations. Read Donna Scimia's interview in Alexander Hamilton Institute's Personnel Legal Alert, September, 3, 2007. "IP Staff Noticed Unusual Behavior": The Journal News, February 25, 2007: A study from the Washington, D.C.-based Violence Policy Center indicates about 10 murder-suicide cases occur each week in the United States. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand states, "Most people think of suicide as a solitary act. They fail to understand that many people with suicidal thoughts are also intent on taking people--most often family members--with them. The implications of this study as it pertains to workplace aggression and domestic violence are far reaching. Donna Scimia interviewed by The Journal News after a murder-suicide involving an employee at a nuclear power plant in Westchester County, NY Click here to share your feedback with Donna on these articles. Scimia Consulting Group, Inc. keeps a finger on the workplace pulse…… Our trainings are based on client needs as well as the demands of the ever changing workplace environment. With managers given increasing responsibility for HR functions and spending close to 30% of their time dealing with workplace conflict, it's not surprising that our most requested trainings include: Constructive Confrontation: How to Get Along with Colleagues, Clients & Customers Sexual Harassment: Understanding the Gray Areas Conflict Resolution Skills for Managers A Common Sense Approach to Reducing Liability in Today's Workplace A Strategic Approach to Reducing Aggression and Violence in Today's Workplace Workplace Unrest in the News : One Wild Ride! A man who was fired from his construction job stole an excavating machine from his former boss and drove it through a neighborhood causing property destruction in upstate NY. Work Reduction Tragedy A disgruntled employee at a California printing plant shot and seriously injured three co-workers then killed himself. Prior to the incident, he had told management that he was upset over a reduction in work affecting all employees. Selling Secrets A former secretary was angry at her company for not treating her well and devised a plan to steal trade secrets to sell them to the company's competitor. Grape Juice Sickens Customers An employee at a Connecticut drug-store chain poured dishwashing liquid into grape juice containers at the store, sickening close to 50 customers. He was angry that his managers didn't appreciate him. Beyond Insubordination A dispute over workplace tardiness escalated into a fight in which a manager and an employee were injured in Yonkers, NY. High $$$ of Retail Theft Employee theft in the retail industry is estimated to cost more than $10 billion dollars. Many employees in all industries justify theft when they feel mistreated, ignored, or don't get a raise/promotion.