The Top 5 Causes of Violence in the Workplace

Workplace violence is a growing concern.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that nearly 2 million Americans report being victims of workplace violence every year.

Workplace violence is the act or threat of physical violence, harassment or intimidation at work. Understanding the root of the problem can often prevent this growing issue. Below are the top five causes.

1. Lack of Security – Workplace violence is often caused by outsiders. Having the right business security features can help prevent intruders from getting into your business. An access control system is an affordable option to help to manage who enters your business.
2. Hiring the Wrong People – You would be amazed how many companies do not perform proper background and reference checks on job applicants. Screening job candidates for previous violent criminal activity can significantly reduce your chances of violence in the workplace.
3. A Stressful Work Environment – Stress is the leading cause of employee violence. The key is to spot signs of employee stress early on. Then, you can work to resolve the situation. Signs of employee stress include irritability, poor memory, low quality work and frequent absences.
4. Lack of Employee Support – Employees need an outlet to voice their concerns. Keep an open door policy in your workplace that allows employees to discuss issues and problems. It can help to solve issues before they get out of control.
5. Bad Management Skills – The managers at your business are very important for security. They are the ones who need to pay attention to signs of employee stress. They are the ones who need to moderate employee disputes. Train your on managers how to deal with employee conflicts as well as how to treat them with respect.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we help businesses better protect themselves against workplace violence and other criminal activities. We offer customizable access control systems as well as security camera surveillance systems for businesses in California and Oregon.

To find out more, visit us at www.HueAndCry.com or call us at 1-800-762-3196.

How to Handle and Prevent Conflicts in the Workplace

The workplace can be a stressful environment. There’s a good chance that conflicts between employees are going to happen. The key for management is to handle the situations before they get out of control.

Verbal disagreements can quickly spiral into ugly arguments and, in some cases, workplace violence. To avoid this, here are several things to handle workplace conflicts.

• Get in front of the conflict early – If there is a dispute simmering between employees, handle it before it boils out of control.

• Find the cause of the conflict – Look closely at what caused the argument. See if there is any way to prevent it from happening again.

• Avoid dishing the blame – When people are angry, don’t start pointing fingers. It can make things worse. Instead, use “I” statements to voice your feelings and concerns.

• Get outside help – Sometimes you won’t be able to defuse the situation by yourself. Seek out support from others to help resolve the conflict between employees. If the situation turns violent, immediately call police.

• Make sure the issue is resolved – Keep the lines of communication open. Let both parties know that your door is open to voice issues and concerns. This will help prevent similar situations in the future.

Following these tips can help handle and prevent conflicts in the workplace. Remember that communication is critical in handling arguments at work.

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The Benefits of Access Control Systems

Discover how an access control system can help to protect your business.

This free video from Hue & Cry, Inc. covers all of the benefits of access control systems. You’ll learn how they can help to safeguard your business from outsiders as well as how to monitor employees.

Be sure to take a look at the discovery points below this video.

In this video, you will learn about…

• The types of access control systems
• The benefits of access control
• How they can help you monitor employees

For more great business security tips, be sure to Like the Hue & Cry Facebook Page.

How a Security System Can Assist With Business Emergencies

Find out how security systems can help businesses deal with all sorts of emergencies including thefts, fires and even acts of terrorism.

The video below shows you how a business security system can protect your company and employees from all sorts of emergencies and catastrophes.

Check out the discovery points after watching this video.

In this video, you will discover the importance of…

• Emergency notification buttons
• Advanced fire and smoke detection systems
• Security camera surveillance systems

We hope that you enjoyed this video. To watch other security related videos, be sure to subscribe to the Hue & Cry, Inc. YouTube Channel.

Why a Fire Emergency Plan Is Important for Your Business

Having an emergency plan in place for fires is important for your business. Every single year, there are nearly 100,000 non-residential structure fires according to the National Fire Protection Association.

With an emergency plan, you can better protect your employees as well as your business in the event of a fire.

Too often, businesses ignore emergency planning. They say there isn’t enough time or it will cost too much money. Don’t fall into this trap. Take the time to create a fire emergency plan for your business. They’re not hard to develop or implement.

To help you get started, here are the most important steps.

1. Develop a fire and evacuation plan

Work to create protocols that employees should take when the fire alarm sounds or there is evidence of a fire. This should include:

• Identifying evacuation routes
• Designating an assembly area outside of your business
• Compiling a list of all emergency service numbers
• Identifying individuals that are trained to fight small fires

Additionally, you’ll want to develop a plan for what to do when a fire alarm sounds, but there is no fire. In these instances, you’ll still want to evacuate the building. However, you’ll want to notify fire services and your fire alarm company of the situation.

2. Plan implementation

At this point, you’ll want to put your plan to work. Educate employees at your business about the fire emergency plan. Take the time to let them know what they should do in the event of a fire as well as a false alarm. Have them read “What to Do if a Fire Alarm Goes Off at Your Business.”

Create maps that show emergency exit routes as well as where employees should gather after the incident. You might even want to post the locations of fire extinguishers on the map.

Make it a point to educate new employees about the fire emergency plan during the orientation period at your business.

3. Look for improvements

Try to look for ways to improve your safety plan as well as ways to prevent potential fires. This might include developing company rules that forbid certain things such as candles and smoking indoors. For more information about fire prevention in offices, please read “Tips to Prevent Business Fires.”

You might also want to look at finding another company to test, monitor and maintain your fire alarm system.

In the end, it’s important to be prepared for fires at your business. For even more business fire prevention and security tips, Like the Hue & Cry, Inc. Facebook Page.

What to Do if a Fire Alarm Goes Off at Your Business

Picture this situation… you’re working hard at your job and all of a sudden the fire alarm goes off. What do you do?

The decision you make can be the difference between life and death. At a garment factory in India, a sounding fire alarm was waved off by managers. Because of this negligence, more than 100 people perished in a fire.

While this incident may have been on the other size of the world, there’s an important lesson… DON’T IGNORE FIRE ALARMS.

When the fire alarm sounds at your business, here’s what you should do.

1. Stop working – Immediately stop working. Don’t think of it as a possible false alarm. Every second counts. Get out of the building.

2. Leave your belongings behind – Don’t obsess over gathering all of your personal belongings as you leave. You can always replace them.

3. Find the nearest exit – Locate the nearest exit and leave as quickly as possible. If the exit is blocked, quickly find another one.

4. Avoid elevators – If you work on upper floors, take the stairs in the event of a fire alarm going off at your business.

5. Contact authorities – The fire alarm should alert authorities. To be certain, contact authorities and let them know the situation once outside.

It’s important to treat fire alarms seriously. Every single year there are nearly 100,000 non-residential structure fires according to the National Fire Protection Association.

If it happens to be a false alarm, get it checked out as soon as possible by a company that specializes in fire alarm and suppression services.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we specialize in inspecting, testing, monitoring and maintaining fire alarm systems. To find out how we can help you, visit our page on fire alarm inspecting and testing.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Business Security System

Discover how to get the most out of your business security system by watching this video blog post.

This video shows how your business security system can help you track employees as well as manage business entry points. You’ll also find out about the important money saving benefits of security system testing and maintenance agreements.

Be sure to check out the discovery points after watching this video.

In this video, you will find out:

• Key security system features that will improve productivity
• How security system maintenance agreements can save you time and money
• About important business security system upgrades

We hope you enjoy this video! For more great security tips for businesses, be sure to follow us on Facebook.

How Often Should I Test My Business Security System?

What would happen if you never took your car to a mechanic for service? It probably wouldn’t last very long. Your car needs to be tested and serviced in order to run properly. The same applies with your business security system.

Whether it’s your car or your business security system, testing and service are essential. Many businesses fail to test their security systems enough. This is a costly mistake.

Testing your business security system helps to quickly identify system failures and broken hardware to keep your system running smoothly.

So how often should you get your businesses security system tested?

Most security experts recommend that you test the system at least once a month. However, you can do it more often. It all depends on your available resources.

To test your system, you typically call your central monitoring station. Provide them with your security system information and confirm it’s in test mode. You can then go about testing sensors, motion detectors and other security system features.

If something is wrong with the system, it’s important to get it repaired as soon as possible. Having a security system maintenance agreement with your security company can help to speed up the repair process because you’ll most likely get priority service.

It’s best to go with a local business security company because they can be there when you need them. You can rest assured that the monitoring center and repair technicians will be near your business to help you.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we help businesses in California and Oregon with their security needs. We can help you test as well as fix your security systems. Find out more by visiting our page on security system repair services or call us at 1-800-762-3196.

Do You Need a Maintenance Agreement for Your Security System?

When you first get a business security system, it might not seem like you need a maintenance agreement. But over time, your security system will need to be serviced and repaired whether you like it or not.

A maintenance agreement for your business security system can be very beneficial to your company. It can help save your business time and money. Don’t believe us?

Here are the top three reasons that you should seriously consider a maintenance agreement for your security system.

1.  It Keeps Your System Working – Could you imagine what would happen to your car if you never got it serviced? The same applies with your security system. Your security system needs to be regularly serviced by professionals to keep it running smoothly. A maintenance agreement sets up a schedule so your security system is serviced at regular intervals, so it properly works.

2.  It Helps You Comply With Regulations – Some insurance companies and municipalities require you to regularly service your security system to ensure that it’s properly working. Without a maintenance agreement, some insurance companies could invalidate claims.

 3. It Ensures Priority Service – There’s nothing worse than having to wait for a technician to come out and repair your security system. With a maintenance agreement, you’ll get priority service over other businesses without service agreements because you’re a regularly paying customer. Plus, some security companies charge non-contracted hourly rates to businesses without service agreements, so it’s better to get one.

In the long run, it’s better to go with the maintenance agreement. You’ll save time as well as money and avoid potential headaches.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we offer business security systems that come with reasonably priced maintenance agreements. We can service, inspect, test and repair most security systems as well as fire alarm systems, security camera systems and access control systems.

To see how we can help you, visit our page on security system repair services. For questions, call us at 1-800-762-3196.

The Best Security Accessories for Businesses

The best line of defense against burglaries and other criminal activities in California and Oregon is a good business security system.

If you don’t believe us, read our post, “Crescent City Burglary Spoiled Thanks to Hue & Cry Security System.” In addition to a security system, there are several accessories that you should consider for your business.

The accessories below will enhance security, improve productivity and help save money at your business.

Remote Control Capabilities

Remote control capabilities allow you to control your security system and other important business functions on the go. This security accessory is gaining popularity with businesses.

With remote control capabilities, you can arm and disarm your security system from a smartphone or other web-enabled devices. You also can remotely perform other security system functions, so you don’t have to stand next to the control panel.

Some remote control capabilities even give you access to other important business functions such as remote temperature, lighting and office equipment control. This helps to save your business money!

Video Surveillance

Video surveillance is another security accessory that you’ll want to seriously consider for your business. Security camera surveillance systems help in preventing theft and vandalism.

With security cameras, you can also remotely monitor your business from a smartphone or a web-enabled device. This can significantly help to improve productivity because you can watch employee behavior and monitor staffing levels.

Security camera surveillance is an affordable option for many businesses. It’s cheaper than hiring security guards and other costly security services.

Access Control

Access control systems and video intercom systems help to restrict unauthorized entry into your business as well as other designated areas within your building. These types of systems protect against disgruntled ex-employees, thieves and other vagrants.

With an access control system, you can also monitor when employees are arriving and leaving work as a way to boost productivity.

Access control systems are inexpensive and scalable to meet the needs of most businesses.  Whether you run a small business or a large corporation, an access control system works well at controlling access to your business. To find out more, please read “Access Control Systems Add Additional Security to Your Business.”

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we can help you find the right security accessories for your business. We have experience serving businesses of all sizes in California and Oregon. To see how we can help you, visit our website at www.HueAndCry.com.