I've discovered a consistent work-around to the issue. So far I've done it 5 times over the course of the last 3 weeks and it's worked each time.
Steps to work-around:
1) Click "Apple logo" in task bar.
2) Select "Shutdown".
3) When popup occurs, click "Shutdown".
4) Allow machine to fully power off.
5) Press power button.
6) Once machine is fully booted, startup Activity Monitor.
7) Launch VMWare Fusion.
8) Startup a Virtual Machine to confirm the issue is currently occuring.
9) Look at Activity Monitor:
- Issue is not occuring ->
* Enjoy some productivity until the next time the problem occurs.
- Issue is still occuring ->
* Frown (a huge one is perfectly appropriate), and
* Continue with steps.
10) Shutdown VMWare.
11) Click "Apple logo" in task bar.
12) Select "Restart".
13) When popup occurs, click "Restart".
14) Once machine is fully booted, startup Activity Monitor.
15) Launch VMWare Fusion.
16) Startup a Virtual Machine.
17) Look at Activity Monitor:
- Issue is not occuring ->
* Smile (only a minor twitch of the lips is recommended),
* Be a little happy (don't show it, this is very important),
* Do a small dance (not too big a dance or the 3 Fates will surely punish you),
* Try your best to not power off the machine. Especially don't choke on a root beer float and cough it up all over the monitor. This will surely result in a loss of power, and you know what THAT means...
- Issue is still occuring ->
* Curse your life,
* Curse ME for getting your hopes up, and
* Continue waiting for your Unicorn to come and fix this stupid issue. (no, I'm not implying that Unicorns don't exist. I would never say those words.)