Virginia Circuit Court: Phillips v. BJ's Wholesale Club Reminds Employers of the Importance of Workplace Safety Policies
The Virginian-Pilot reports that a former employee filed suit in Norfolk Circuit Court seeking $65 million against BJ's Wholesale Club for failing to warn or take precautions to protect the former employee from her estranged husband who came to the workpace, killed the employee's sister, and shot the employee. According to the article, the lawsuit alleges that on the day of the shooting, the employee's manager at BJ's received several phone calls and a visit from the husband threatening the employee, but the Company did not warn or protect the employee.
While the outcome of this case remains to be seen, an important take-away for employers is that it is critically important to develop, implement, and communicate to employees specific procedures to respond to workplace threats.
