Physical assault at work

[hotchy]

One thought just crossed my mind. If she is nutty enough to slap you completely unprovoked, then shes easily nutty enough to claim you sexually assaulted her in order to keep her job etc. "He pinched my bum" etc or far worse. No proof but lately when has a woman needed concrete proof. Even look on here, how many posts sound like they are doubting your events? Alot. Be careful imo.

[CAPP0]

The bit about "are you ok to work with her tonight" - wtf is wrong with your management? She should absolutely, without question, have been suspended for this immediately. Whether with pay or not isn't your issue, it's management's, but she should NOT be in that workplace until this is resolved.

This is not meant to be a "standard PH" type response but you absolutely have to stand up to mgmt and say No, this isn't happening, get her away from here. Otherwise what next; false accusations against you, worse assaults, a weapon. What if she fires a powder extinguisher in your face tonight?

Genuine Q - does she have something over the management? Is there a relationship going on which should't be? Because the mgmt behaviour is inexcusable.

If for whatever reason you're not able to stand up to mgmt then I would seriously suggest either a call to ACAS, or yes, the police for the assault bit.

ACAS Contact details

[MOBB]

hotchy said:

One thought just crossed my mind. If she is nutty enough to slap you completely unprovoked, then shes easily nutty enough to claim you sexually assaulted her in order to keep her job etc. "He pinched my bum" etc or far worse. No proof but lately when has a woman needed concrete proof. Even look on here, how many posts sound like they are doubting your events? Alot. Be careful imo.

^ very good point, you need to be extremely careful and not get into a bad situation

[irocfan]

mickyh7 said:

She willshould get fired.
Gross misconduct.
Thats the end of it.
You may have to watch your back for retaliation/damage to your car from her partner outside of work.
Very rare to be Smoke without Fire ?
Can of worms.

FTFY

Edited by irocfan on Monday 27th January 16:04

[Leicester Loyal]

I wouldn't be working with her again, that's for sure. I'd refuse to go into work if she was still there while it's investigated, fearing for my own safety.

[p4cks]

irocfan said:

mickyh7 said:

She willshould get fired.
Gross misconduct.
Thats the end of it.
You may have to watch your back for retaliation/damage to your car from her partner outside of work.
Very rare to be Smoke without Fire ?
Can of worms.

FTFY

FTFY

[funkyrobot]

Thanks for the advice all.

I have had the meeting with work and they have told me not to go in tonight, but will pay me.

They are launching the investigation tomorrow with the woman who slapped me. They asked me what I want from it. I said I don't want it to happen to me or anyone else again, I don't want any further fallout from this and I want her to get the help she needs to sort out whatever drove her to do it. I didn't say I want her sacked as that just doesn't feel right.

My manager said she can't say what HR will do about this. So, we will see what happens. She did say it is unacceptable though and shouldn't have happened.

The perpetrator will know tomorrow and I'm not in work with her for a few days.

I called ACAS and they just said to let the company know what I want from this. If I do wish to report this as assault to the police, I can do so.

[V8mate]

funkyrobot said:

I called ACAS and they just said to let the company know what I want from this.

Sense prevails. Any advice other than 'talk to your employer first' is so wrongheaded.

Surprised that they've given you the shift off. Your colleague should be the one suspended pending the investigation.

Every cloud, I guess... you get paid to stay at home!

[funkyrobot]

CAPP0 said:

The bit about "are you ok to work with her tonight" - wtf is wrong with your management? She should absolutely, without question, have been suspended for this immediately. Whether with pay or not isn't your issue, it's management's, but she should NOT be in that workplace until this is resolved.

This is not meant to be a "standard PH" type response but you absolutely have to stand up to mgmt and say No, this isn't happening, get her away from here. Otherwise what next; false accusations against you, worse assaults, a weapon. What if she fires a powder extinguisher in your face tonight?

Genuine Q - does she have something over the management? Is there a relationship going on which should't be? Because the mgmt behaviour is inexcusable.

If for whatever reason you're not able to stand up to mgmt then I would seriously suggest either a call to ACAS, or yes, the police for the assault bit.

ACAS Contact details

It's out of my hands now.

Let's see how their HR process holds up.

I will be kept updated, apparently.

[deckster]

Hang on. Why is it up to you to decide what happens to her? That's ridiculous.

All you want is to work in an environment where you're not going to be assaulted. The rest is up to your employer.

[21TonyK]

At the first whiff of your employer trying to bury the issue I would log it with the Police. In fact I would probably do that now just to cover yourself. I'd also start getting everything recorded via email or in writing.

[funkyrobot]

V8mate said:

Sense prevails. Any advice other than 'talk to your employer first' is so wrongheaded.

Surprised that they've given you the shift off. Your colleague should be the one suspended pending the investigation.

Every cloud, I guess... you get paid to stay at home!

Yep.

Maybe I'm too nice. Maybe I should have said to my manager that she needs to be gone. Thing is, she (the woman who hit me) has issues and she needs some help.

[funkyrobot]

21TonyK said:

At the first whiff of your employer trying to bury the issue I would log it with the Police. In fact I would probably do that now just to cover yourself. I'd also start getting everything recorded via email or in writing.

Yes. I think I will get it logged.

Everything done so far is in writing as I wrote out my statement for them.

[funkyrobot]

deckster said:

Hang on. Why is it up to you to decide what happens to her? That's ridiculous.

All you want is to work in an environment where you're not going to be assaulted. The rest is up to your employer.

As I said above, let's see what happens. I will be telling them at my next meeting that upon reflection, I doubt I can work with her anymore. Just too risky.

I don't get to decide what happens to her, HR do. They just wanted to know what my thoughts were on what happens.

[irocfan]

Greshamst said:

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!

for God's sake man - it's a humorous posting there's no need to get all woke about it. Get a sense of humour.

[Tyre Smoke]

funkyrobot said:

deckster said:

Hang on. Why is it up to you to decide what happens to her? That's ridiculous.

All you want is to work in an environment where you're not going to be assaulted. The rest is up to your employer.

As I said above, let's see what happens. I will be telling them at my next meeting that upon reflection, I doubt I can work with her anymore. Just too risky.

I don't get to decide what happens to her, HR do. They just wanted to know what my thoughts were on what happens.

It is fairly standard to ask the aggrieved party what they want the outcome to be. It gives them an idea of how hard they need to be. If Mr Robot was going all out 'I'm getting the police involved, it's common assault, she's not safe to be around....' then their approach/the outcome might be a lot different to ' she needs help, I want her to understand it's not acceptable..'

Ultimately, she will probably be given a final written warning for Gross Misconduct. I suspect that she isn't in work tonight either. It's usual in these cases to immediately suspend the two parties. In other words take them both out of the environment to allow an investigation to take place. In this case, it seems pretty cut and shut.

[V8mate]

funkyrobot said:

V8mate said:

Sense prevails. Any advice other than 'talk to your employer first' is so wrongheaded.

Surprised that they've given you the shift off. Your colleague should be the one suspended pending the investigation.

Every cloud, I guess... you get paid to stay at home!

Yep.

Maybe I'm too nice. Maybe I should have said to my manager that she needs to be gone. Thing is, she (the woman who hit me) has issues and she needs some help.

No - it's not your call to decide a colleague's fate. But it is for you to represent yourself properly to your employer.

[CAPP0]

funkyrobot said:

CAPP0 said:

The bit about "are you ok to work with her tonight" - wtf is wrong with your management? She should absolutely, without question, have been suspended for this immediately. Whether with pay or not isn't your issue, it's management's, but she should NOT be in that workplace until this is resolved.

This is not meant to be a "standard PH" type response but you absolutely have to stand up to mgmt and say No, this isn't happening, get her away from here. Otherwise what next; false accusations against you, worse assaults, a weapon. What if she fires a powder extinguisher in your face tonight?

Genuine Q - does she have something over the management? Is there a relationship going on which should't be? Because the mgmt behaviour is inexcusable.

If for whatever reason you're not able to stand up to mgmt then I would seriously suggest either a call to ACAS, or yes, the police for the assault bit.

ACAS Contact details

It's out of my hands now.

Let's see how their HR process holds up.

I will be kept updated, apparently.

You've done the right thing and it's good to see that mgmt have also looked after you, although it should be her not coming in, not you - there are presumably other people she could assault, so they are running a fair risk there, esp once they have told her, when she may go ape once again.

You are right - and it's decent of you to acknowledge - that she needs help, but she needs to get that from somewhere other than the workplace.

[Stuart70]

You got hit, but you are the one suspended (albeit on full pay).
What happens if the meeting goes really well for her on investigation?

You are out of the workplace and she is there.

I would want a back into the workplace PDQ.

[funkyrobot]

CAPP0 said:

funkyrobot said:

CAPP0 said:

The bit about "are you ok to work with her tonight" - wtf is wrong with your management? She should absolutely, without question, have been suspended for this immediately. Whether with pay or not isn't your issue, it's management's, but she should NOT be in that workplace until this is resolved.

This is not meant to be a "standard PH" type response but you absolutely have to stand up to mgmt and say No, this isn't happening, get her away from here. Otherwise what next; false accusations against you, worse assaults, a weapon. What if she fires a powder extinguisher in your face tonight?

Genuine Q - does she have something over the management? Is there a relationship going on which should't be? Because the mgmt behaviour is inexcusable.

If for whatever reason you're not able to stand up to mgmt then I would seriously suggest either a call to ACAS, or yes, the police for the assault bit.

ACAS Contact details

It's out of my hands now.

Let's see how their HR process holds up.

I will be kept updated, apparently.

You've done the right thing and it's good to see that mgmt have also looked after you, although it should be her not coming in, not you - there are presumably other people she could assault, so they are running a fair risk there, esp once they have told her, when she may go ape once again.

You are right - and it's decent of you to acknowledge - that she needs help, but she needs to get that from somewhere other than the workplace.

She is in work tonight. They aren't talking to her about it until tomorrow though.

I do feel a bit disappointed with myself for not being stronger about the not working with her anymore thing. However, reflection is a wonderful thing and I will tell them this the next time I speak to them.