Managing Violence Podcast with Joe Saunders MVP108: Melissa Muir: Violence Prevention from a HR Professional’s Point of View
Apr 10, 2023
Melissa Muir, an experienced HR executive focused on workplace violence prevention and the security–HR interface. She talks about bridging HR and security cultures. She highlights behavioral red flags, smarter hiring and vetting, and why integrity should beat quick fixes. She outlines safer, dignified separations and how policies and culture signal risk.
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Different Lenses On The Same Employer Duty
- HR and security approach the same legal duty (e.g., OSHA) from different angles, causing missed collaboration opportunities.
- Security frames it as workplace violence prevention; HR often thinks of physical-safety accidents, creating a policy gap.
Back Alley Termination Sparked A New Focus
- Melissa accidentally attempted a midnight, private firearm retrieval from a departing employee and was stopped by US Marshals who insisted on a different separation process.
- That back-alley separation and ensuing culture clash prompted her entry into workplace violence prevention and cross-team collaboration.
HR Is The Canary In The Coal Mine
- HR holds early, private signals (benefit changes, address updates, beneficiary edits) that can be critical dots in threat assessment.
- Melissa realized HR is the 'canary in the coal mine' but often doesn't see its data as security-relevant or share it.