There’s been much ado and tisk-tisking about the Salahis’ –now infamous White House gate crashers. Most people seem to assume that the Secret Service royally messed up and of course that’s perhaps true. But the reality is many of those same people who are aghast at that breach couldn’t defend their own security systems.

If you’re in corporate America, you’re probably used to key cards, sign-in sheets and the like but how safe are these systems? Do you test for leaks?

In a George Clooney move right out of Ocean’s Eleven, Seattle bank teller, Jim Nicholson knocked a wanna be robber onto the ground last Tuesday.
On Thursday, Nicholson was fired.
Don’t you hate it when that happens? You’re trying to do the right thing at work, following your gut and then bam! You run straight into the brick wall of some stupid corporate policy.
Or is it?
After more than two years working as a teller at the Key Bank branch in Lower Queen Anne, Nicholson knew that he should have just handed over the cash. The bank had a strict policy that instructed tellers to just show robbers the money and hand over the cash. Avoiding confrontation and saving lives is the aim.
Instead of surrendering, Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lurched toward the robber and demanded to “see it.” On the Today show on August 5th, he clarified that he meant the weapon. Shocked, the robber raced for the door, with Nicholson in close pursuit.
Nicholson, a fit 30, chased the man for several blocks before throwing him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. Nicholson held him until the police arrived. Nicholson had practiced for this event by running after shoplifters while working at retail jobs in New York and California. He expressed confidence he could catch the person.
“It’s something I almost look forward to. It’s a thrill and I’m an adrenaline-junkie person. “It’s the pursuit.”
I’d advise Nicholson to seek other employment, such as police work, dog catching or lion taming!
As a Key Bank corporate spokesperson said in a statement to Foxnews.com, “Our policies and procedures are in the best interests of public safety and are consistent with industry standards. Money, which is insured, can be replaced. Lives cannot.”
Nicholson counters that he understands but “my instincts kicked in and I did what’s best to stop the guy. I thought if I let him go he would rob more banks and cause more problems.”
What should you do if you encounter a robber, assailant, or other evil doer at work? As I wrote in my most recent book, “We Need to Talk: Tough Conversations with Your Employee, From Performance Review to Terminations; Tackle any Topic with Sensitivity and Smarts.”, there are specific steps you should take. Follow the advise of Seattle police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb. “When confronted by a violent criminal, it is best to comply unless they feel their personal safety is in jeopardy. It is possible that taking action and confronting the criminal may lead to the injury of the victim or other bystanders.” Whitcomb urged citizens to get a description of the suspect, especially of his or her clothing: “It’s best to help the people who are on duty, to help them catch the person. There’s just so many bad people out there and there’s so many variables.”
Just days before the bank incident, a clerk at a Seattle convenience store was killed when he tried to stop an armed robbery in progress.
What do you think? Do you believe in workplace vigilantism? Would you welcome the chance to serve as a hero? Inquiring minds want t o know. Email me and I’ll post it.

You may not have your cubicle assaulted by Somali pirates, but violence is still an issue that arises in plenty of workplaces. And even one incidence of violence in the workplace is one too many.

This is not the kind of thing that we can ignore. Most people who have been violent have made threats beforehand. Ignoring it and hoping it will go away — not a good strategy. Are you pooh-poohing it? Cutting someone slack? Being understanding? Maybe that’s not what the situation demands.