Do Zero Tolerance Policies Make Zero Sense?

When one hears about a workplace shooting, it's easy to demand a "Zero Tolerance" rule against workplace violence. It's understandable that after the staggering and even criminal revelations of the #METOO Movement that employers would want to nip harassment and discrimination in the bud before it rises to the level of unlawfulness. And in the safety setting, a single violation of Lock Out or Confined space entry procedures or removal of a guard could result in multiple deaths or grievous injuries. No violation is acceptable.

Keep in mind that "Zero Tolerance" is generally being used in practice as automatically discharging any violators - regardless of severity and mitigating factors, and with little or no investigation and due process. Zero Tolerance is often NOT used simply to mean that we will not tolerate bad behavior.