Supporting behavioral intervention team members in organizations.
NABITA endeavors to make workplaces safer environments where development, education, and caring intervention are fostered and encouraged by bringing together professionals from multiple disciplines for mutual support and shared learning.
Behavioral intervention teams are a relatively new concept in the workplace, spurred by increasing workplace violence and employees with difficult-to-manage personal and professional crises. As millennial generation students transition from colleges to the workplace, they bring with them some of the patterns of violence, substance abuse, high levels of medication use, and mental health challenges that have impacted colleges for the last decade.
Changes in employee self-injury, expectations, and level of personal involvement in the workplace, as well as changes in employer expectations of employee availability and accessibility, have dramatically altered the knowledge of employers about their employees (and thus the liability). Turning externally to EAP systems to manage these ongoing internal issues has proven ineffective for many employers. Creating a culture of reporting, early intervention, and behavioral recognition are just some of the areas where BITs are supplementing EAP Programs in today’s workplace.
Behavioral intervention teams are a relatively new concept in the workplace, spurred by increasing workplace violence and employees of concern. Unlike threat assessment teams, BITs look to get out ahead of violence before it emerges. Instead of focusing on assessing a threat that already may exist, BITs focus on the leakage and pathway to violence that are precursors. While effective threat assessment techniques are a part of BIT function, these teams focus on a caring and preventive approach that incorporates the employee, the community (when appropriate), other community resources, and the family (when appropriate) to support the employee. Teams intervene with specialized knowledge to identify the earliest signs of potential crisis rather than waiting for clear signs of an impending threat and reacting.
Teams develop success plans for employees that may include disability support, treatment requirements, and other assistance.
BITs can be coordinated within or across different workplaces and can include appropriate community agencies where available. Finally, BITs focus on training front line employees, supervisors, and designated staff on behavioral recognition and identification of warning signs and red flag behaviors.
Other benefits of BITs:
- Sends a positive message to employees (and potential employees) regarding the level of care and concern your company has for them.
- Reduces risk and potential liability.
- Increases employee commitment, enhances trust, and reduces lost time.
- Enhances your bottom line in fewer lost days, less negative publicity, and more goodwill.