Bossnapping

Here's a term you might not have heard before, but if you're a business owner or manager you might want to take note.

It's called "Bossnapping". Kind of like kidnapping, but with a twist. Bossnapping is when employees of a business take their boss hostage. The ransom? Usually better pay and/or benefits.

It's not necessarily a new phenomenon, but it's just now starting to come into public view given some recent incidents. Luckily for U.S. businesses the incidents haven't been on American soil, but that's no reason to ignore the trend. In fact, given the tumultuous economy, it's likely just a matter of time when we see such acts in the U.S.

So, make sure you have a plan to prevent and/or mitigate such an effort. If not, you might very well fall victim to these tactics.

Earthquake Raises Questions for Businesses

I've been monitoring the crisis in Haiti as they deal with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. While Haiti isn't a mecca of business, it does make me wonder if businesses in the United States are prepared for such a natural disaster?

If you are a business owner, I would invite you to answer the following questions:

(1) Do you have a formal continuity of business plan?

(2) Do you have plans to get key personnel to a functioning facility?

(3) Do you have backups of your records/data...and if so, are they stored offsite in a safe location?

(4) Do you have alternate facilities identified?

(5) Do you have an alternate communications plan identified?

(6) Do you have a security plan in place?

(7) Do you regularly test your continuity plan and update the plan based on the results?

If you didn't answer yes to all of the questions, then you need to sit down with a professional and develop a plan. Without one, a catastrophe could wipe your business out. Don't wait until it's too late. Plan now so you'll be ready.

More Workplace Violence

Another day and another instance of serious workplace violence. This time in Kennesaw, Georgia, where a disgruntled former employee returned to a Penske truck rental facility and shot multiple people.

While details are still few, I have to wonder why a "disgruntled former employee" was allowed access to the property. Was there no security in place to prevent or minimize such an attack?

At what point do businesses start to take security more seriously?

NCAA Final 4 & Indy 500 Security Services

Now that we are into the New Year, Dignitary Protection Group is planning for a busy Spring in Indianapolis. With the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship in April, followed by the Indianapolis 500, DPG is starting to work with client's to fill their security needs.

It's not too early to plan. If you are in need of professional security services, contact Dignitary Protection Group now!

Dignitary Protection Group, LLC

(800) 270-8342 ext. 711

drunyon@dignitaryprotectiongroup.com

Workplace Violence

As I sit and digest the news of yet another workplace shooting...this time in St. Louis...I have to wonder when businesses are going to start taking security more seriously.

While it's too early to comment specifically on the St. Louis incident, acts of workplace violence have been on the increase and it seems businesses are slow to react to that trend. Frequently, businesses have little to no physical security that would prevent, or at least minimize, these often deadly incidents. The potential liability of such inaction astounds me, yet businesses seem willing to roll the dice.

Background Checks

An effective program would start in the hiring process. While not foolproof, properly performed background checks can frequently identify job candidates with a potential for problems. But the vast majority of businesses do very limited, if any, screening.

Workplace Monitoring

Another problem lies within most businesses not paying attention to what is actually going on in the workplace. In many cases where violence has erupted, there were telltale indicators that could have and should have been noticed.

False Sense of Security

When it comes to physical security, some businesses do attempt to put security measures in place, but often times they are too little and too late. And more often than not those measures consist of low wage security officers with little to no training and insufficient equipment.

Style Over Substance

We often hear from businesses who talk a good game. They want the latest and greatest in security personnel and technology. But when they get the estimate for what it is going to cost they quickly backpeddle and settle for something far cheaper and virtually ineffective. Their only concern is the appearance of security, rather than actual security that is pro-active and effective in minimizing and/or eliminating violent acts.

Welcome!

As we begin a New Year, Dignitary Protection Group is expanding its horizons even further. We'll be delving deeper into the the social networking scene as well as starting this new blog.

Bear with us as we tweak the look and layout, but please stop in periodically to check us out as we'll be offering expert analysis and opinions on current events as they relate to security.

Thank you!