Despite sound recruitment practices, any employer may encounter situations in which colleagues are worried about their safety because of the actions or statements made by a co-worker. The person at risk could be a current employee, former associate/contractor, disgruntled customer, investor or other person who makes or constitutes a threat to your most vital resource - your human capital.

The evaluation of threats should be an interdisciplinary process in which a limited number of decision makers consult with law enforcement, a supervisor and often an external assessor. Dr. Barton teaches the architecture of corporate threat assessment, and proven tools that are used to evaluate a threat, to law enforcement and corporate audiences using a case study method. This approach employs strategies that have been successful in a variety of situations, including:

• an associate being stalked by a spouse or former partner


• an employee who states that he or she is experiencing significant mental deterioration or who has thoughts of self-harm or homicide


• altercations between co-workers and/or with a supervisor that are escalating in tone and severity


• serious changes in attitude and performance with known or suspected substance abuse factors


• social networking, blog and other means of electronically threatening an individual or team

Dr. Barton helps organizations create a Threat Assessment Team (TAT) following a process he has successfully embedded in many of the world’s leading companies. He also consults real-time with security, HR, legal counsel and other professionals when their company faces a threat or incident.

To contact Dr. Barton, please call 602.740.4888.

Always contact law enforcement immediately if you face an imminent threat. Not a source of legal or clinical advice.