With the surge of gun-related violence in Bermuda, violence in the workplace is becoming an increasing concern for organisations.

With that in mind, the Employee Assistance Programme of Bermuda is holding a seminar on the subject, featuring Paul Viollis, CEO of Risk Control Strategies, a consulting firm which specialises in threat management, risk assessments and security solutions for companies.

The event will take place at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute next Thursday morning, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.

Dr. Viollis, who has 30 years of experience in both law enforcement and security, said yesterday that much had changed since he first came to speak on the Island about a decade ago.

"Ten years ago when I came to Bermuda, people said to me, 'we don't have a gun problem here'," Dr. Viollis said. "I told them it was coming, because that's what was happening in the US, Canada and the UK.

"If you understand how crime works, you will see that when the US is affected by a trend, then Bermuda will be affected later. Violent crime is now running rampant in Bermuda."

There were several warning signs of workplace violence that employers could look out for, he said. Many of the perpetrators are former employees. "This person will not be a sociopath, he is just looking for attention," Dr. Viollis said. "Often it will be the case that the job is the core of their identity.

"If you threaten their job, then you are threatening their life.

"Typically, it will start with non-verbal threats and then verbal threats. The there will be withdrawal when they have made up their mind what to do.

"It could be physical violence, or they could download a virus into the company's system. Cyber crime is part of workplace violence."

Dr. Viollis'sexperience ranges from being a security specialist under the United States Space Command to Commanding Officer of a Florida State Police Academy.

For more information, e-mail jmcronald@eap.bm or call 292-9000.