Physical assault at work

[V8mate]

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. Will see what happens later.

Unless we have to wait for a process to happen, I doubt they will go down this route as they have already asked me if I'm ok to work with her.

I think you should call them now and say that, on reflection, you're not ok working with her. Her unpredictability means that you can no longer be sure that she is a safe colleague.

[funkyrobot]

V8mate said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. Will see what happens later.

Unless we have to wait for a process to happen, I doubt they will go down this route as they have already asked me if I'm ok to work with her.

I think you should call them now and say that, on reflection, you're not ok working with her. Her unpredictability means that you can no longer be sure that she is a safe colleague.

I can't do that. If I don't go in, I don't get paid. I also had to finish the shift with her on Saturday anyway. I did continue working with her straight after the incident.

[markiii]

you can, tbh they should have suspended her pending investigation so rather than you not going in, she shouldn't be

[funkyrobot]

markiii said:

you can, tbh they should have suspended her pending investigation so rather than you not going in, she shouldn't be

To be fair, the management at my place of work are awfully incompetent. If I turn up at work tonight and she is there, that's another example of just how bad they are.

I'll go to the meeting later and see what they say.

[anonymous-user]

V8mate said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. Will see what happens later.

Unless we have to wait for a process to happen, I doubt they will go down this route as they have already asked me if I'm ok to work with her.

I think you should call them now and say that, on reflection, you're not ok working with her. Her unpredictability means that you can no longer be sure that she is a safe colleague.

That’s exactly what I would do too. How can anyone be OK working with someone who may hit them out of the blue for no reason. Madness!

[funkyrobot]

garyhun said:

V8mate said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. Will see what happens later.

Unless we have to wait for a process to happen, I doubt they will go down this route as they have already asked me if I'm ok to work with her.

I think you should call them now and say that, on reflection, you're not ok working with her. Her unpredictability means that you can no longer be sure that she is a safe colleague.

That’s exactly what I would do too. How can anyone be OK working with someone who may hit them out of the blue for no reason. Madness!

We've had to work with her for a while now being like this. The hitting is new, but the verbal assaults have been happening for some months. She even got into a full-blown shouting match with our manager a month ago. Nothing seems to have come from that.

We were recently told that customers avoid her too now. The word 'teflon' springs to mind.

I won't be near her tonight at work anyway. She will be in a separate part of the building.

[Hoofy]

Crikey.

Don't let her open the office post. She might stab you with a letter opener next time.

[V8mate]

funkyrobot said:

V8mate said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. Will see what happens later.

Unless we have to wait for a process to happen, I doubt they will go down this route as they have already asked me if I'm ok to work with her.

I think you should call them now and say that, on reflection, you're not ok working with her. Her unpredictability means that you can no longer be sure that she is a safe colleague.

I can't do that. If I don't go in, I don't get paid. I also had to finish the shift with her on Saturday anyway. I did continue working with her straight after the incident.

I didn't say don't go in.

I said to call them, well ahead of your shift, to say that you have changed your mind re the question they asked you. It's up to them to provide you with a safe working environment.

[vaud]

funkyrobot said:

I can't do that. If I don't go in, I don't get paid. I also had to finish the shift with her on Saturday anyway. I did continue working with her straight after the incident.

They should have suspended her pending the investigation.

You could declare that you no longer feel safe and suggest they take professional advice.

You could also report to the police and ask the company where they would like the crime number sending to.

You have a right to be safe and feel safe at work. They have a duty of care.

You could call ACAS for free advice. They can be helpful.

IANAL.

[MrOrange]

funkyrobot said:

<snip>

She said afterwards she didn't know why she did it.

She has mental health issues.

<snip>

Had this at work a few years back, but slightly different it was a supplier staffer that assaulted a staffer. Police were called as the offender had run off, the perp got a "conditional discharge" as no charges were brought. The supplier then "dealt with the matter internally", no apology offered and regarded the matter closed. The perp still works for them, but the supplier was terminated afterwards,

[rlg43p]

funkyrobot said:

I can't do that. If I don't go in, I don't get paid. I also had to finish the shift with her on Saturday anyway. I did continue working with her straight after the incident.

If they don't do anything about her behaviour and refuse to pay you for not going in to work on a shift when you would need to work alongside her I suspect they are on VERY dodgy legal ground. You would be being treated very unfairly.

I'd be inclined to take proper legal advice on this matter.

If you decided to walk out I could see this constituting constructive dismissal - but you SHOULD take properly qualified advice.

[Greshamst]

Olas said:

Here’s an interesting angle, based on our ‘woke’ society...

You are sexist and should be fired for gross misconduct.
Sexism is a serious offence, and you didn’t get into a fight with the person because of their sex.

If it was a man you would have punched him back but only because your assailant was female did you not punch them back. That shows unequal administration of justice based on gender and so you’re sacked!

Did you see it coming? When a woman slaps a man they usually reach all the way back and loop their arm like they’re holding a tennis racket - the motion is neither swift nor discreet - I argue you should’ve moved your face out of the way or raised your hand to cover your face before she hit you.

Wear a wig and claim to identify as a woman and then you can kick fluff out of her without it being a sexist attack because you’re both female!

It’s a minefield

Lovely piece of gammon there!

[funkyrobot]

vaud said:

They should have suspended her pending the investigation.

You could declare that you no longer feel safe and suggest they take professional advice.

You could also report to the police and ask the company where they would like the crime number sending to.

You have a right to be safe and feel safe at work. They have a duty of care.

You could call ACAS for free advice. They can be helpful.

IANAL.

Thanks.

I'm just on the phone with ACAS now.

[funkyrobot]

rlg43p said:

If they don't do anything about her behaviour and refuse to pay you for not going in to work on a shift when you would need to work alongside her I suspect they are on VERY dodgy legal ground. You would be being treated very unfairly.

I'd be inclined to take proper legal advice on this matter.

If you decided to walk out I could see this constituting constructive dismissal - but you SHOULD take properly qualified advice.

Thanks.

In a phone queue for ACAS advice now.

[V8mate]

All this 'take legal advice' and 'call ACAS' is needless escalation and stress all round.

Just call your manager and say that you've had a chance to reflect and that you're not happy that you're safe at work while your colleague is there. It wasn't a one-off. You only need to involve third parties if your manager tells you to suck it up.

[anonymous-user]

She sounds exciting. Is she fit?

[Muzzer79]

It's highly unusual for someone to properly hit another person without any provocation whatsoever.

If this woman has indeed done this, she needs mental help aswell as workplace discipline.

The punishment will revolve around your actions to a large extent (although by no means completely) If you brush the incident under the carpet or accept brushing it under the carpet, there's less likelihood of her losing her job.

However, if you make a formal complaint and follow that up, she should lose her job for gross misconduct.

If the company don't want to have to let her go, they may try and coerce you into down-playing the incident or similar. Do not accept this.

[hotchy]

Call the police, get her charged and then tell the work you dont feel safe working next to someone who has assaulted you in the work place.

[Trevor555]

Muzzer79 said:

If the company don't want to have to let her go, they may try and coerce you into down-playing the incident or similar. Do not accept this.

My thoughts also.

What if there's a next time?

But this time no witnesses.

And you might have to hit her back to defend yourself?

What then????

[dingg]

hucumber said:

She sounds exciting. Is she fit?

That thought entered my mind too.

I used to go for this type, too long in the tooth now for the 'excitement' that usually accompanies the volatility.