Attacked at Work. Advice sought.
Discussion
Hello all,
I have registered a new account for this post, for anonymity. It is likely that other readers may work for the organisation in question, and the incident is still being investigated. For the same reasons, the information will be intentionally vague. Any advice or assistance would be required.
This incident relates to a friend of the family; a woman in her fifties. She works in a branch of the public health service in UK. She has been in the same job for thirty years and has always enjoyed it.
Recently she was attacked by a member of the public (a patient) in the course of her work. No serious physical injuries, although a number of cuts which was enough to draw blood. The person entered the ‘non-customer’ area and held her to the floor for a while, shouting, and then went on to cause significant damage to the premises. There was no physical barrier to stop him undertaking the attack, i.e. a locked door or other means. Police were called, statements were taken, and he was arrested.
After a week or so off work she returned with a positive mindset, although upon entering the building, decided she wasn’t ready to go back. She was signed off for two weeks due to the associated anxiety and she wasn’t sleeping. This period is nearly up and she has decided that she will hand her notice in and leave quietly.
She feels abandoned by the organisation that she has served for this long, as they have essentially tried to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet. She seems to think the limited contact they have had with her is very calculated and the questions that have been posed to her seem rather strategic. (Note: Maybe that’s just how these things work). No efforts have been made to make the work place any safer and a few of the other staff have since raised their concerns.
It seems a shame that after thirty years’ service that it would come to this. She would almost certainly have worked there until retirement and at her age and considering her limited skill set, I can’t see her picking up any employment. I don’t know the details of her employment, but I can’t see this helping her pension and rights as an employee.
At the advice of her colleagues, she has taken ‘legal advice’ from a no-win no-fee outfit, who are looking into it. I am rather skeptical about this.
I said that she should stick it out if possible and try to work through it with the employer. This will serve to keep her in the strongest position surely? Easier to say when you haven’t been involved directly I know.
Is there any recourse that should be considered here? Any practical words of wisdom?
I have registered a new account for this post, for anonymity. It is likely that other readers may work for the organisation in question, and the incident is still being investigated. For the same reasons, the information will be intentionally vague. Any advice or assistance would be required.
This incident relates to a friend of the family; a woman in her fifties. She works in a branch of the public health service in UK. She has been in the same job for thirty years and has always enjoyed it.
Recently she was attacked by a member of the public (a patient) in the course of her work. No serious physical injuries, although a number of cuts which was enough to draw blood. The person entered the ‘non-customer’ area and held her to the floor for a while, shouting, and then went on to cause significant damage to the premises. There was no physical barrier to stop him undertaking the attack, i.e. a locked door or other means. Police were called, statements were taken, and he was arrested.
After a week or so off work she returned with a positive mindset, although upon entering the building, decided she wasn’t ready to go back. She was signed off for two weeks due to the associated anxiety and she wasn’t sleeping. This period is nearly up and she has decided that she will hand her notice in and leave quietly.
She feels abandoned by the organisation that she has served for this long, as they have essentially tried to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet. She seems to think the limited contact they have had with her is very calculated and the questions that have been posed to her seem rather strategic. (Note: Maybe that’s just how these things work). No efforts have been made to make the work place any safer and a few of the other staff have since raised their concerns.
It seems a shame that after thirty years’ service that it would come to this. She would almost certainly have worked there until retirement and at her age and considering her limited skill set, I can’t see her picking up any employment. I don’t know the details of her employment, but I can’t see this helping her pension and rights as an employee.
At the advice of her colleagues, she has taken ‘legal advice’ from a no-win no-fee outfit, who are looking into it. I am rather skeptical about this.
I said that she should stick it out if possible and try to work through it with the employer. This will serve to keep her in the strongest position surely? Easier to say when you haven’t been involved directly I know.
Is there any recourse that should be considered here? Any practical words of wisdom?
Edited by AdviceHunter on Friday 19th September 02:16
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