Hobby Lobby Workers Return To Work Following Deadly Warehouse Shooting

Hobby Lobby employees are now returning to the scene of a shooting, and a licensed clinical social worker says we all deal with that trauma differently.

Investigators say a work-related argument between 69-year-old Douglas Smith and 32-year-old Domonique Thompson caused the deadly Wednesday shooting.

Mili Flores, a clinical social worker, says that situations like this can cause trauma for workers.

Hobby Lobby leaders told News 9 that grief and trauma counselors are being made available through the Chaplain's office and specialists from Integris Health through the on-campus Clinic.

“They even may be hesitant to go to work,” Flores said.

OSHA has specially designed handbooks for how to deal with workplace violence in industries where employees are at greater risk.

According to a Department of Labor report in 2021, there were 481 workplace homicides and 392 in 2020.

Flores also recommends making connections with the people you work with, not only during times of stress.

"Talking with a manager shouldn't be something that happens only when you have a hard time," said Flores. "How is your day, and how are you doing? Talk about what you are doing with your family on the weekend."