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Protecting Your Company From Terrorsim From Within…
In his article Dr. Rovner, writes that
Employee-Terrorist is “calculated” and will wait for opportunity to strike, while using employer to survive beyond stipends provided by their terrorist group, unwitting employer is potential target depending on type of business or government agency. But even if companies are not specifically targeted says, Dr. Rovner, they are indirectly and unknowingly supporting Terrorist by providing a source of income. Like Terrorist who awaits call to action, disgruntled employee is “event driven” by circumstances. Both “Terrorist” and “Disgruntled Employee” share some other common opportunities as “employees”; they have access to company and are familiar with company secrets.
The Potential Threat…
Driving home a clear and evident example of potential terrorist’s ability to penetrate even a secure environment, I am reminded of British Daily Mirror Reporter, Ryan Parry who compromised Buckingham Palace’s hiring and recruitment procedures by providing false credentials and gaining precarious access to President of United and his wife while staying at palace. Even though palace had an elaborate security system and employed most stringent security measures to guarantee safety of President Bush, Parry successfully breeched security by falsifying his references. According to security officials they were satisfied that both security and criminal records check were robust and done correctly. The response may have satisfied some political end but didn’t answer question of what type of employee background check was done to authenticate and validate hiring during screening process. Such access was a breach at hiring phase when in all likelihood, responsibility fell on lonely shoulders of a lowly paid clerk who merely followed checklist.
What To Look For…?
I believe collaborative process of Threat Assessment Team concept enhances prevention and proactive essentials and promotes shared awareness in identification of potential threatening applicant during hiring process. The same collaborative process can be used to insure right individual passes hiring and recruitment process early on before permanent employment. Dr. Rovner says that companies, agencies and organizations can take preventive measures. He suggests that Human Resource Department be a bit more aggressive during hiring phases by instilling essential skills of investigator. Verification of all data at hiring process is critical. He said, “One of scariest things about Terrorist is that they look just like you and me”. While psychologist have not developed a foolproof terrorist profile, he suggests that most Terrorists posses a number of same traits. Tactfully worded questions during interview process will alert interviewer. Dr. Rovner further suggest that since Terrorist possess common traits use of properly designed questions will tell whether applicant has most or all of traits. He suggest they are:
-Loners -Dissatisfied with their lives -Have low self-esteem -Are true believers -Are antisocial -Lack pity or remorse -Have grievances against our country and our allies -Are tremendously loyal to their terrorist group.
Anyone intimately familiar with Threat Assessment Process would quickly discern that some of Terrorist’s traits and characteristics are common to disgruntled employee.
If anyone would like a copy of Dr. Rovner's article, please send me an email requesting article.
President of Nater Associates as security management consulting firm specialzing in workplace security & workplace violence prevention. Felix retired as a postal inspector with 30 years experience.
