Customer Hits Me With A Can and Gets Away With It.

[Tutorgal]

I asked if I could press charges for assualt and my manager said something like "The store has to agree to do it and I decide not to because that's bad press".

There is absolutely no place in the US (and I would wager the EU as well) where this is true. It is very important that you report this to the police and have the injury documented. Do this before you call corporate. Make sure to tell the cops all about your manager and what he thinks. They might not be able to catch the jerk who assaulted you, but should have a good time telling his exactly what's what when it comes to reporting assaults and his duties to his employees.

Then call corporate. If they don't snap to it, call the labor board.

If your store would have footage of this, tell the police asap and ask them to help make sure it isn't conveniently deleted.

[nomorecarts]

Your manager is from Mars.

or just the training videos. I struggled not to laugh when they had a SC whining about they didn't have HER lotion in stock(it looked like she was about to pull the race card) then the CSM comes over and tells her what he can do and she gets all friendly and apreciative before he even looks it up to see if it's ordered

[anniesbar]

What did the person you were waiting on do? Was that lady a regular so she could be called as a witness?

[HowMayIHelpMe?]

It's been a while since I've posted on this site....just been doing some thinking....but this post snapped me to full attention.

You said, "I asked if I could press charges for assault" -

you do NOT need to be asking for anyone's permission
to press charges. You were assaulted; you have the right
to have this taken care of.

The red flags on this went up for me the moment I saw
"I asked if I could press charges for assault" in your post.
By asking, you were:

a) advising the manager that he had jurisdiction to govern
your personal physical safety

b) involving him into this in the first place.

In the places that I've worked, at the times that I have been
threatened I never bothered to seek "permission"; I've either
ordered the offending (or threatening) customer out of the store
on pain on a visit from law enforcement, or simply reached for
the phone and started dialing for the police (being sure that the offender
KNEW that's what I was dialing).

Never ask a manager for permission to defend yourself;
no employment contract can ever negate your right to safety
and self-defense.

In fact, at this point, I'd even go so far as to say you need to
go back to that manager, say that you've given it some thought,
and that you want the security tapes and that you are going to seek
police involvement.

If he balks or stonewalls you again, ask him in an "I'm just curious" tone
of voice if he happens to know how much the lawyers in your locale charge
for work of this type.

[Eric the Grey]

I refuse to believe that there is any such thing as a place in the US where what your manager said is factual. You were assaulted, not the store. You may file charges in any way you choose.

So, the steps I would take, in this order:

1. Hospital, now. You were assaulted at work, the workplace will wind up covering it. Get checked over, and make sure that nothing more serious than a bruise occurred.
2. Pictures. Find a way to get them taken, then get them printed at a professional printing place that will include a date/time stamp on them (even if they only print when they printed them, that's still something).
3. Write everything down. And I mean everything.
4. Police. Report the assault. Give a copy of what you wrote in the report.
5. Newspaper. Speak to someone there about the assault, but make very certain to keep things as factual as possible. Give a copy of what you wrote to him/her.
6. HR. Report the manager who allowed the assault. Make sure to mention how the manager tried to deny you the right to report the assault, and how the manager admonished you over this. Also mention that you've spoken to a reporter about this, and give them a copy of what you've given to the police and reporter.
7. Lawyer. Find someone to speak to about this, and be ready to follow through. If action is taken against the manager, you might let it drop. If not, though, be ready to sue both the store and the manager. Give the lawyer a copy, too.

Your manager is afraid of bad press? By the time you walk out of the HR meeting, he should be terrified of what's coming next.

Just to note, you should not automatically go to the press. Save that for if you actually face censure from the company (ie: they threaten to fire you for pressing charges). If it puts the company in a bad light before they can do anything to rectify the situation, they may not be willing to do anything for you besides what they absolutely must (ie: workman's comp).

Speaking of getting medical help for this, remember workman's comp insurance. YOU pay for that out of your paycheck, and it's yours to use as needed. An injury report should have been filed at work (if not do so immediately) for your injury so it can be taken care of. It can be a pain, but your injury should be looked into without it costing you a penny.

You probably won't need a lawyer, unless the company fires you for pressing charges, and that can depend on your local laws. Some states, like Colorado, allow a company to fire someone for any or no reason at all.

Other than that, I agree with everything else said by responders to your post. You have every right to have the SOB arrested and put in jail for assault. There isn't even a need to call a lawyer. Just make certain that everything is documented and gather any or all witnesses you can so the police can make their case.





Eric the Grey

[godaistudios]

Just to note, you should not automatically go to the press. Save that for if you actually face censure from the company (ie: they threaten to fire you for pressing charges). If it puts the company in a bad light before they can do anything to rectify the situation, they may not be willing to do anything for you besides what they absolutely must (ie: workman's comp).

Speaking of getting medical help for this, remember workman's comp insurance. YOU pay for that out of your paycheck, and it's yours to use as needed. An injury report should have been filed at work (if not do so immediately) for your injury so it can be taken care of. It can be a pain, but your injury should be looked into without it costing you a penny.

You probably won't need a lawyer, unless the company fires you for pressing charges, and that can depend on your local laws. Some states, like Colorado, allow a company to fire someone for any or no reason at all.

Other than that, I agree with everything else said by responders to your post. You have every right to have the SOB arrested and put in jail for assault. There isn't even a need to call a lawyer. Just make certain that everything is documented and gather any or all witnesses you can so the police can make their case.





Eric the Grey

Well, New Mexico is also an "at will" work state was well. Howerver, if retaliation is being taken against you, that is not legal, and is protected by federal law, last i read.

[Eric the Grey]

Well, New Mexico is also an "at will" work state was well. Howerver, if retaliation is being taken against you, that is not legal, and is protected by federal law, last i read.

I know that's true for whistle-blowers (ie: people who report their place of business to the authorities for breaking the law) but I don't know if it applies to this situation. The best bet would be to speak to the labor board.



Eric the Grey

[Gawdzillers]

Put a horse head in his bed.

[Mango]

I can't say anything more than the others have already said, except to keep us updated. This manager should be fired, at the VERY least.

[Fungus]

To the original poster: If you don't do something about this, you will regret it for the rest of your life!!!!

[cj1991]

I know when I worked in retail, there was a security camera above EACH cash register. Unless your store is woefully out of date, or really small, I'd wager they're watching you, and the whole incident was captured for posterity.

I'd go to your DM (unless they're buddy buddy - this happened in our store), and explain the situation and request that you sit TOGETHER and watch the footage, and also explain how your manager totally mis-handled the situation.

My uncle's wacko wife went apeshit at the grocery store once and hauled off and hit him with something out of the basket, breaking his glasses, and his nose. The store called the cops and had her hauled off. And he was just a customer.

Perhaps the man is indeed a nut, but there are better ways to handle it than to tell you to just let it go because you didn't do what the whackjob wanted. Sheesh.

[bubblelittlepally]

This happened 2 weeks ago and I have no clue who the customer was either. My boss is all about making HIMSELF look good not the store and he's also kind of dumb. I know what he said was BS, it was just the fact he thought I'd believe him that made me disgusted.

After he left, my area manager let me go home (without pay). I don't want to sue anyone or cause major drama; however, I wanted to get that asshole who hit me introuble but I have no clue who he is. I'm still thinking about calling corporate about it.

[QASlave]

Umm, that's assault and battery. Assuault only if he would have said, 'I'm going to throw this can at you!' With the apparent intent and ability to do so. Since he DID throw it and hit you, that's battery and the more serious charge.

You definitely need to teach the customer AND your manager a lesson. (I'd sue both.) Doesn't sound like you have a shortage of witnesses.

[Sheldonrs]

This happened 2 weeks ago and I have no clue who the customer was either. My boss is all about making HIMSELF look good not the store and he's also kind of dumb. I know what he said was BS, it was just the fact he thought I'd believe him that made me disgusted.

After he left, my area manager let me go home (without pay). I don't want to sue anyone or cause major drama; however, I wanted to get that asshole who hit me introuble but I have no clue who he is. I'm still thinking about calling corporate about it.

Just remember, the longer you wait to do anything; the less likely anything will be done.

[StormCMage]

may I recomend causing the drama anyways, looks like all the a-holes deserve it big time!

this is one of those times where drama is a good thing, cause you would be the sympathitic party