Received an all-employee email for my location this morning...training is in November:

"These are challenging times in society. The threat of an active shooter in populated areas and in the workplace is on the minds of the public, law enforcement, businesses, and our employees. Unfortunately, active shooter situations are unpredictable and can evolve quickly. Have you thought about what you would do in an active shooter scenario? We have asked our security consultant, the Phillips Group, to assist us in answering that question. Specifically, they have developed a training program which provides guidance to all employees, so they can prepare to respond to an active shooter situation. Over the next several weeks and months, all employees will receive this training either live in person or via video. The first of the live training sessions will be on the following days & times:


This mandatory training program will take approximately 75-90 mins and all sessions will take place in *******. Ideally, we would like @ 35 employees in each session.


We are fully committed to the safety and security of our workplace, and all employees can help prevent and prepare for potential active shooter situations. Implementing a training program such as this will give ** employees the knowledge necessary to promote situational awareness and an idea of how to respond to an unthinkable event like an active shooter. Thank You in advance for your cooperation and attention to this matter."


Being active in our "SF community" I ask:
- what questions are appropriate so as not to paint myself as the resident gun guy?
- how does one not snicker or groan when instructed to "lock yourself in a closet" when the natural response is "2 to the body - 1 to the head?
- all advice/experiences are appreciated.

I've got nothing. President of my company is former Army Ranger, and ~30% of staff in TN HQ carry. Both us in my office carry. We'd all simultaneously respond with the "2 to the body, 1 to the head" as the right answer.

Our MA offices could likely use the training, as they'd only be able to react with harsh looks.

If I was at a liberal, caring company, I'd have to show up at such training wearing a ball gag to keep my job.

quote:

Originally posted by sgalczyn:
Have you thought about what you would do in an active shooter scenario?

Uhhhh, shoot back?

You already know the answer: Silently listen and observe. If someone in your office is crazy you don’t want to ID yourself to them as a threat and you don’t want to ID yourself to management.

With that in mind, I went through that mandatory training recently as well and I just sat there. However, the first time I did it, a few years ago, I made one comment that was accepted as legitimate. I simply asked why didn’t my office and several other offices have locks on the door that could be used in the event of a shooting yet others had locks? Within a couple of weeks all the doors had locks.

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT


If your company has any hint of being woke or anti-gun there will certainly be a diversity person or HR person taking notes of who asked what question and if you sound like you like guns you just painted a bullseye on yourself.

Ask about locations and training for medical trauma kits. Might be able to get yourself some company paid Stop The Bleed training. Another thing would be inter-company communication to address employees of an incident, or to help responders.

With the push for red flag laws like the one in CA that co workers can out you - if it were me I would be participating as minimalist as possible - BB61 response above is on target

I am long gone from that sort of work environment. I probably would not thought of it, but I think Voshterkoff's response is excellent.

In my current work environment, everybody / anybody is encouraged to carry, as long as s/he follows the (Florida) law. I like that policy. Oh, I set the policy since I'm the boss.

We did this a year or so ago at my company with the local police. It was actually very reasonable all the way around. The shocker, at the end, was the revelation by both the HR rep and our Safety guy that the building we're in is not posted (to prevent weapons) and the company has taken up no policy to prevent concealed carry in our office. Only then did I learn how many CCW permit holders were bringing their weapons to work.

Keep your mouth shut.

Observe others in the meeting.

Later suggest every office get a rubber door stop, you would be amazed at how a simple five dollar item can keep a door shut. I give one to every teacher my kids gets at school.

Only the outside wall offices have doors and walls-senior manager types. The rest of us are in cubicles.....soft walls n all.

Poker face.

0-0

Why do you care if they paint you as a gun guy? Can they put adverse action on you for it? Or do you carry against policy (fuck policy if it’s my life and there are no magnetometers at the door).

If I said anything, I’d be questioning whether or not entrances and “safe” rooms are truly hardened. I’d ask if it’s such a priority, why can’t folks carry legally if it’s lawful? I typically sneer at victim preparation training and I’m not very polite about it. This isn’t advice, just opinion driven. If saying things outside the collective will jam you up, say nothing.

The ironic thing is that many 'active shooters' are so called disgruntled employees. They might be getting the same training as you and everyone else.

I teach a course "Workplace Violence Prevention, Mitigation, and Survival" for government and corporate entities. We stress that the best way to deal with active shooters is to not have one in the first place. First and foremost front load hiring practices so you don't hire the crazy in the first place. The greatest threat is the one in the tent with you. If you have a threatening employee get rid of them. Be aware of employees in a violent relationship that might spill over into the workplace. The security of the facility should keep outside threats out. All employees need a means of egress so they are not in a a trap. Facility design is important. Have an egress plan that gets everybody out quickly-do NOT hide under a Goddamn desk or table! Run Hide Fight is what's left when everything else failed.

I have a checklist that I can send you if you will send me an email. It will give rise to lots of non-gun questions you can ask, more of your employer than anything else.

Point out that most offices, closets, bathrooms, etc.... have drywall that won't stop someone kick though, let alone stop bullets. So ask where the real hardened "Safe Space" is located.

I wouldn't expect the training to give you the opportunity to debate your company's gun policy. That's most likely a subject that the training consultant has no control over.

The hostile intruder training that I went through was beneficial and basically wanted you to think about what you could/would do if you were to be put in that situation (is there a legitimate safe place to go, or should you run, etc).

The natural thing is to hide under a desk, but that's generally not a good plan.

I would participate and be open to any ideas. It might save yours or someone else's lives.

Nod and smile. Just nod and smile.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Why do you care if they paint you as a gun guy? Can they put adverse action on you for it? Or do you carry against policy (fuck policy if it’s my life and there are no magnetometers at the door).

Unfortunately all it takes is one person to say they feel threatened, or one HR person to take note and you could find yourself in a very difficult position if not out of the company. I've seen people removed for less - it is the "woke" culture and I cannot wait to be gone from the corporate world.

Be the grey man - just like when carrying day to day. I do not carry in the office because company specifically addressed after Fl allowed handguns in cars. There is zero tolerance for even a pen knife, immediate dismissal. Yeah be quiet, maybe get some trauma training if offered. It is all Kabuki theater.

We had the same class, but online/video based.
Pretty sure about 25% of this office is armed almost daily.