I was assaulted at work. My boss did nothing. (WA) (company, interest)

[easy62]

People today want someone else to fight their battles grow a set of you know what and kick ass stop being abused fight back. If someone assaults me i fight back no one touches me without my consent.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by easy62

People today want someone else to fight their battles grow a set of you know what and kick ass stop being abused fight back. If someone assaults me i fight back no one touches me without my consent.

What's the policy in retail businesses, regarding fighting back against a customer? Have you done this in a professional setting?

[fishbrains]

What do you want your boss to do? Have you asked your boss to take any measures?

I agree that it is reasonable to have an escort after hours when walking out of the store.

If the woman can be positively identified and served with appropriate paperwork you could conceivably take out a restraining order, or your boss could issue a trespass letter. One would result in the person being arrested if she approached you, the other if she entered company property.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by fishbrains

What do you want your boss to do? Have you asked your boss to take any measures?

I agree that it is reasonable to have an escort after hours when walking out of the store.

If the woman can be positively identified and served with appropriate paperwork you could conceivably take out a restraining order, or your boss could issue a trespass letter. One would result in the person being arrested if she approached you, the other if she entered company property.

Exactly. OP should ask her boss what the company policy is, on defending oneself from physical assaults by customers. Surely the boss doesn't want a scuffle to break out, between an employee and a customer. He must have recommendations, guidelines, a policy, anything!

But if the same customer returns and physically engages with the OP again, or is verbally abusive, the OP should definitely sit the boss down, tell him/her that the OP is seriously contemplating getting a restraining order, and see what the boss recommends. Actually, a good first step would be to call police to report a stalker. Police do have policies and procedures in place for that, and the employer usually is supportive. This won't freak the boss out, like going so far as to get a restraining order would.

If the workplace has any security staff, they'll engage on this (if it's reported as a stalker). I know some stores, like Whole Foods, have exterior security cameras and a staff member tasked with monitoring the cameras regularly. Some stores have interior cameras. If the OP's store has anything like that, that person would be the one for the boss to ask to get involved, to keep an eye on the customer, if she returns.

Let's hope the customer doesn't return, or at least--no longer behaves aggressively toward any staff.

[deposite]

Agree with fishbrains. Don't roll over and do nothing.

[WhatTheFox]

Originally Posted by K12144

I don't imagine fighting customers-- even in self-defense-- keeps one a job for very long. Neither, probably, does calling the cops on customers. And then you have no job, and good luck getting another one with that on your record. I'd be nervous too, if I were OP.

This is exactly in line with what management and corporate want you to believe.

Do you really want to even work for another company that will take this as a negative? True that it will take some time to find an employer with a backbone but it will totally be worth the wait. Plus at the end of it all ... the employee will have self-worth and dignity as a person which seems to be very rare these days.

[easy62]

[quote=Ruth4Truth;55284356]What's the policy in retail businesses, regarding fighting back against a customer? Have you done this in a professional setting?[/

Retail jobs professional lol lol, that’s like calling a whopper flopper a chef. Lol lol I’m 64 years old and have never ever let anyone put their hands on me , I was never afraid to kick butt.

[Disgustedman]

I worked one "Black Friday" at Walmart and we had a security meeting and so I asked our DM "If I am attacked, what can I do?" He replied "You are NOT a punching bag, you can give as much as you take, however, once they fall to the ground, stop hitting them"

[musicfamly5]

Originally Posted by easy62

People today want someone else to fight their battles grow a set of you know what and kick ass stop being abused fight back. If someone assaults me i fight back no one touches me without my consent.

Originally Posted by Disgustedman

I worked one "Black Friday" at Walmart and we had a security meeting and so I asked our DM "If I am attacked, what can I do?" He replied "You are NOT a punching bag, you can give as much as you take, however, once they fall to the ground, stop hitting them"

So what happens when that customer sues you and your company for assault? Because that's what you've just done...assault an customer instead of leaving the situation or seeking a non-violent response. And if that customer has a good enough lawyer you'll be fired before your next shift.

Violent and abusive customers are bad, but if your response is to stoop to their level and dish up just as much violence back you have a massive problem. As a fellow employee I would report and look at seeking out your need for discipline before a pointlessly crazy customer. And as an owner or manager; no questions asked I would fire you on the spot if you even threatened a customer. You call the police or management if your feeling "unsafe". It isn't about looking tough or needing to grow a pair; It clears the air of who started the issue and allows ease of getting rid of the person who is truly harmful, rather than creating a "he said, she said" situation where you ARE a perpetrator of a crime if the other person gets injured.

You two are talking about assaulting others and claiming its "self defense" because you feel threatened. But in real life if you attack another person instead of just walking away or finding a way to solve the problem without violence (and unless they have a gun or weapon you can always walk away or call for help) they place just as much guilt on themselves for extending the situation and creating more violence which will lead them to getting fired, sued, or even jailed. It's really simple, in the workplace if a customer is agitated leave them alone and if they start to initiate violence or make other uncomfortable ask them to leave or call the police. You don't need to ever approach them or get in their face. You don't need to defend your honor or respond back in any way. You don't need to appear the toughest or try to frighten them. Just walk away, tell a manager/leader, and call the police and stay calm.

[easy62]

Originally Posted by musicfamly5

So what happens when that customer sues you and your company for assault? Because that's what you've just done...assault an customer instead of leaving the situation or seeking a non-violent response. And if that customer has a good enough lawyer you'll be fired before your next shift.

Violent and abusive customers are bad, but if your response is to stoop to their level and dish up just as much violence back you have a massive problem. As a fellow employee I would report and look at seeking out your need for discipline before a pointlessly crazy customer. And as an owner or manager; no questions asked I would fire you on the spot if you even threatened a customer. You call the police or management if your feeling "unsafe". It isn't about looking tough or needing to grow a pair; It clears the air of who started the issue and allows ease of getting rid of the person who is truly harmful, rather than creating a "he said, she said" situation where you ARE a perpetrator of a crime if the other person gets injured.

You two are talking about assaulting others and claiming its "self defense" because you feel threatened. But in real life if you attack another person instead of just walking away or finding a way to solve the problem without violence (and unless they have a gun or weapon you can always walk away or call for help) they place just as much guilt on themselves for extending the situation and creating more violence which will lead them to getting fired, sued, or even jailed. It's really simple, in the workplace if a customer is agitated leave them alone and if they start to initiate violence or make other uncomfortable ask them to leave or call the police. You don't need to ever approach them or get in their face. You don't need to defend your honor or respond back in any way. You don't need to appear the toughest or try to frighten them. Just walk away, tell a manager/leader, and call the police and stay calm.

You call the police right away and file a complaint on the person who assaulted you, if they threw the first punch they don’t have a leg to stand on. Gat a copy of the Video Surveillance Tapes. If a person hits you are you just suppose to let them, not me i will defend my self. People are to scared these days.