NCJ Number
132297
Journal
Criminology Australia Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (April/May 1990) Pages: 4-6
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Commonwealth Banking Corporation of Australia first turned its attention to the psychological effects of holdups on staff in 1983 when the number of holdups rose from 43 in 1982 to 119 in 1983, an increase of 160 percent.
Abstract
Research was undertaken by the bank's Occupational Health Division (OHD) to study the post-traumatic stress reactions of staff following holdups. It was found that almost 30 percent of the staff experienced stress reactions that lasted from a few weeks to several months. It was also determined that staff were not getting sufficient help from existing community resources to deal with the stress. The bank approved the Post Holdup Support Program which includes direct counseling by OHD psychologists for employees who require assistance, education for staff about holdup reactions, and continued research into the long-term effects of holdup-related stress. The program's operation was assessed by comparing holdups in New South Wales in 1985 before the program was operational with holdups from July 1987 to October 1988. Individual holdups were matched as closely as possible on factors such as holdup type, size of bank branch, and number of staff affected. The study included 30 holdups and 214 staff. Two cases involving long-term effects were removed from the analysis. With these cases excluded, there was a clear reduction in the number of sick days and in the level of compensation payments for program participants. Aims and objectives of the program are outlined, and program operating procedures are detailed. 7 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures