A simple question: have you ever been assaulted/attacked while on the job?

38 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 7:07PM UTC

   I once worked in a library and had a customer remove a ring from my finger. I guess I'm kind of dense because I didn't realize that he was actually trying to steal it from me. I asked for it back though and he gave it to me. I didn't report it because I didn't realize anything had happened. I also had an experience where a customer inappropriately touched my body. I spoke to someone through the employee assistance program and called a crisis number. It didn't really go anywhere beyond the counseling room.

2. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 7:25PM UTC

   Once a guest yelled at me asking me to give him my phone charger because he is a business man and I'm just a receptionist therefore he is more important than me. But I didn't report it because I was new in the country and just landed a job.

3. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 8:19PM UTC

   I am sorry this happened to you. While this has not happened to me personally I would immediately file a police report and consult an attorney. A serious crime has been committed and police will address it, in letting the police know you will likely find out if your attacker has priors. I wish you the best.

4. AnonymousJanuary 18,2023 at 2:33AM UTC

   This is an excellent response. My only addition is that the definition of assault differs from state to state, so OP should google their state’s law to see if what happened qualifies as assault.

   If OP wants the assault prosecuted criminally, report to the police with a heads up to your company.

   If OP does not want to press charges, the company should still be informed about what happened so that any security or personnel issues can be addressed.

5. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 9:22PM UTC

   Patient came for a test & upset he had to wait. Yelling & using profanity at me. I called Secutity & he was taken outside and reprimanded by Security.

   Another instance was a coworker with anger issues directed at me for my faith. Because I signed off an email with "God bless you" - she complained to HR. Mind you, this was at a faith based hospital. HR told me I couldn't use that sign off in email anymore, citing it is hospital owned equipment.

   Instance weeks later she followed me down the hall threatening me. HR & her Director had us meet to talk about it & they said we should have coffee together and be friendly. I almost puked. She left shortly thereafter apparently having a meltdown in her office.

6. AnonymousJanuary 18,2023 at 2:16AM UTC

   Your former coworker sounds unbalanced. I’m glad that this person was fired or resigned.

7. AnonymousJanuary 24,2023 at 1:27AM UTC

   I heard about a year later that she had a nervous breakdown and left the company. She was scary for sure. In my head I would just pray for her and refer to her as "Just miserable" because her initials had JM in them. Yes, just a very sad case. I am more saddened by the other stories I'm reading on here - dear Lord, protect the vulnerable.

8. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 10:59PM UTC

   Yes, I was pushed into production equipment, then told to stand in a corner until the program's completion. I reported it to the owner of the company, and she recommended I read Fierce Conversations, and then I was let go shortly after. Sad, but true.

9. Pamela Mason PerksJanuary 18,2023 at 1:42PM UTC

   Does being attacked by your students in a classroom count?

10. Georgia SinghJanuary 18,2023 at 1:47PM UTC

    Yes it does.

11. AnonymousJanuary 18,2023 at 3:29PM UTC

    Several years ago, I was working nights in the ICU. I had a male co-worker that liked to sneak up on female staff and scare them. I have had self defense training, and reflectivity strike or punch. When I saw him scaring others near me, I told him that I have reflexes and might hurt him if scared. Both the people nearby and he laughed. Later that night, he jumped out and tried to scare me. I was focused on my work, perceived an attack, and punched. I did not break anything but left a bruise. I remember him saying, 'You hit me.' Others laughed at him. I remember someone saying, 'Dude, she warned you.' The charge nurse saw the incident. She talked with all present, and said that it would not go forward. He stopped the scaring.

12. Orlagh CostelloJanuary 19,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    Yes. Almost 20 yrs ago now. Told my boss, was ignored/ told there were 2 sides to every story. Another time, different boss, he made sure I was never working alone with that person again. But either response isn't what I'd expect these days! Not saying it was right then, but I definitely wouldn't accept either approach now

13. Hilary GrayJanuary 19,2023 at 1:33PM UTC

    That's horrible. I'm sorry you went through that. How awful to be told there are two sides to every story - nothing anyone does or says deserves to end in assault.

14. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 1:57PM UTC

    One of my coworkers got punched in the face by another coworker. The assaulter got immediately escorted out of the building by security and was terminated that day.

15. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:17PM UTC

    I was verbally assaulted and threatened by a contracted co-worker over a masking incident. The person came to my office and slammed a fist on the desk, yelling at me. They threatened to put "shit" all over my desk that would make me sick and I would never know it. I filed an incident with my employer of record. Because this person worked for another company in the building, I was told it was addressed and that was it. I locked myself in my office for months, didn't go to the main floor (they worked on the main floor) and made sure to have an escourt to my car. I also requested to park at the door instead of the remote lot for safety. I was allowed to wfh for a week while it settled down and offered work at another site (it was further away). Felt like I was being punished. Oh and they posted on FB a comment that "snitches get stiches" for which I took as a second threat (it was posted within hours of the incident). I had reported the person for masking violations during the stricter phase of masking.

16. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:22PM UTC

    I often went out to a nearby restaurant after working at the mall with coworkers. I was a teenager. I looked up to an older guy, at the time, who was one of the managers. Dumb things that teenaged girls don’t/do think! One night he got drunk at the restaurant and asked me to drive him home. I did. He invited me in. I thought I was being “cool” with the older guy since I was still a virgin.

    Once inside, he punched me and when I was down, he kicked me, breaking 2 ribs. As I started passing out, he raped me. His older brother came home, cleaned me up and drove me home. I never told my parents because I didn’t want my dad going to jail for murder. He bought flowers for me the next day and they were delivered to the store. I smashed them at his feet. Corporate got involved and he was fired. He then started stalking me and he came back to the store and threatened to kill me. I had to have someone walk me to the car after work every night. My parents did hear of this part. Several months later, and after suffering from mono induced by the stress, I attempted suicide and was sent away for a few months for therapy.

17. ShannaJanuary 19,2023 at 4:45PM UTC

    I am glad you are still here.

18. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:31PM UTC

    I was verbally and emotionally assaulted on a daily and hourly basis for a few years. My POS boss, at the time, constantly called me names. He made fun of the fact that I am deaf and that I am blonde. He would call me dumb (I have a masters in cyber security and am a programmer, so dumb isn’t a word I use to describe myself) in emails and IMs. He would gaslight me and have his buddy delete his emails and messages to me. He tried to get my husband and brother fired from the company as well. My husband, because I was forwarding every email I could keep to have proof somewhere. He gave another employee a transfer and a promotion to hack into my personal laptop to delete my documentation that I had against him. I was able to create a 400 page notebook of his transgressions. I gave a copy to Employee Relations. One of his minions got in trouble but not him. Eventually, I was fired due to suffering a stroke and he was promoted. It used to be a great place to work and I still have many friends there. If that is the type of manager they want there, I am good with working somewhere else. It is not always physical.

19. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 4:53AM UTC

    "Employee relations" is a euphemism for employee punishment and support for toxic managers. I learned that the hard wsy, too. Congratulations for your escape. I escaped the same way, sadly.

20. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:51PM UTC

    Report it to your supervisor, or if it was them their supervisor, or HR if you company has one.
    I was assaulted at MANY of my jobs.

    First job was a farm. And I was in a little hut where we did paperwork, customers all around. He came running and yelling at me and cornered me. And as he went to punch me, I pushed him away.

    He was allowed to stay but they moved me to another department he was not allowed in.

    Second job, I was workings at grocery store at the bakery/ deli. They hired a lady that had started a lot of fights with me in HS. But we never were on the same shift and even when we were I would just ignore her.

    One day, as I was getting ready for the lunch shift, mainly police, EMS, and Firefighters, I was telling one of the other ladies (I was the assistant Manager) to clean some equipment.

    The one who argued with me in HS all the time, came out from the back room with a butchers knife and tried to stab me. I was able to kick her in the face from my back when she knocked me down, and right as she got me pinned down, the police saw her, and grabbed her off of me.

    She was immediately arrested, and the management told her she was terminated. HOWEVER, 6 months later she appealed and sued for wrongful termination. And they allowed her to come back to the job, in the same department, but she was not allowed on the same shift.

    Oh and it was my birthday they rehired her. I was able to quit the same day because I was working part time elsewhere, and a full time corporate job opened the same day.

    But the store did pay me a settlement too for rehiring a woman who attempted to kill me.

    Job #3. 2 years into working at my next job, I had a parrot that lived at the local pet shop, I was a corporate employee, but also helped out at that location.

    So one employee one day sold my personal pet, not through the store, he personally sold my pet. That was used for the store's advertising. This was a VERY VERY VERY expensive and valuable bird, as it was trained for commercials etc. So not only was he responsible for the cost of the bird, but the earning potential.

    We had store surveillance video, and we called the police. But when they came he started beating the crap out of me, and the police didn't do anything to him!!!So I then fought back to defend myself and then the police finally detained him for assault and robbery.

    I was given a 2 week suspension for defending myself and sent to another location.

    Then my next job a guy sexually assaulted me in the storage room, and when I reported it to the store Manager I was told I was a whore. So I quit.

    Then my next job was at a hospital. I was assaulted by quite a few patients, various times. I would report them to my supervisor, and they normally gave me paid time off and treated the injuries as workers comp.

    And another time an employee of another department came to our and slapped me in front of the whole staff, my supervisor saw that and she was terminated. I got 2 weeks off paid.

    Then I never has an issue again till my current job. Here The owner doesn't back me up as the boss, and they have verbally assaulted me many times, and nothing has happened to them. Jokes on them, I am leaving and taking the place down with me.

    I feel like people think they can just mess with me an I will take it. I have had too many instances in bars restaurants, running etc to count that people have tried to attacke me, usually I mess them up way more than they do me, but for some reason they keep trying. I must bring out the crazy in people.

21. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:53PM UTC

    I was harassed and stalked by a married man when I was an intern at a utility company in college. It started out friendly enough, but then he started dm'ing me on the company intranet and leaving notes on my car. My boyfriend at the time came to take me to lunch one day, and he threatened me that he would hurt him if I brought him to work again. I was 21 and young and incredibly too scared/naïve to tell my supervisor because I felt I would be blamed for it (it was also 2007, so no #metoo). I was so relieved when the internship finally ended, but he kept calling/texting/emailing telling me he would leave his wife for me and that I should meet him in this secluded park so we could be together. Finally, I got the nerve to tell him to leave me alone. It took me years to understand that he was in a position of power, and this behavior was not okay, and it was nothing I did or didn't do to provoke him.

22. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:55PM UTC

    I was verbally attacked and threatened physically by the COO at a company I worked for. I reported it to my manager, and it was escalated to the CEO. The CEO required that we meet together in person. The COO did apologize and say that he was managing multiple issues in his life and he was triggered. I requested that the situation be documented in the COO's file. My request was denied.

23. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 3:02PM UTC

    I was interested in applying for a job and expressed interest to my supervisor. She told me to speak to her boss, the VP, about it. When I did, he told me HR said they were looking for something different and wanted someone outside the company. I then asked HR for more information, and they told me they never discussed anything like this with the VP and encouraged me to apply for the job. When HR asked the VP why he told me that, he called me into his office and asked why I betrayed him, started screaming, and slammed a coffee mug down and shattered it. His assistant then called me a "spoiled bitch" and refused to acknowledge me ever again. I reported this to HR and they told me not to talk to him anymore. He then "retired" a few weeks later. HR never spoke of the situation again and just awkwardly presented me with a promotion while all my job duties were given to other people. I left soon after and now work at an awesome place where everyone treats each other with respect.

24. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 3:06PM UTC

    I was an on-site HR person for a manufacturing plant, I was in charge of ensuring we had the staff we needed on the right days. I was verbally berated by an employee who was being dismissed, as I attempted to walk him off the manufacturing floor he started swearing at me and even pushed an older woman aside violently. At this point I was telling him to pick up his stuff and go straight to the door, he caused all kinds of havoc on the way, tipping over stacks of boxes/materials, continuing to swear and throwing things so that other employees had to duck to avoid being struck. By the time we got through the first set of doors to the parking lot, he picked up a heavy toolbox and swung it directly at my head. Luckily, I ducked, but unbeknownst to me until that moment, two of the floor supervisors (big burly men) had been following me the entire time, and when I ducked out of the way, they jumped forward and grabbed him by the arms, unceremoniously tossing him out the door and locking it behind him. I was appreciative but shaking the rest of the day. Luckily he never returned, but I did have an escort to my car every day for a few weeks. While the floor supervisors handled my safety, there was really no one to report it to as I was the HR person. Leadership did not see it as an issue to discuss. I found out later that that kind of behavior is not uncommon in manufacturing.

25. misskelleypJanuary 19,2023 at 10:51PM UTC

    This is why I work in tech!!!

26. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 4:58PM UTC

    Yes, I was a surgical nurse and was assaulted by a patient as he awoke from anesthesia. CRNA was unable to get him under control. Multiple calls for extra staff help in restraining him went unanswered. Physical Therapy for 8 months and, 18 months later, still have intermittent pain. I’m caught in Workers Comp limbo. They won’t approve continued treatment but case is still open, so Dr will not treat under my private insurance.

27. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 5:23PM UTC

    That's awful. I'm so sorry that happened to you and that you're not getting the help you need.

28. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 5:43PM UTC

    I was a childcare provider in a private home. The grandparents were visiting, and the grandfather did not like that I was telling one of the children "no" (said child was a toddler opening and slamming kitchen cabinet doors - a week later, he sliced his finger open doing the same thing leading to a 911 call). Grandpa grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me dead in the eye, and shook me. He didn't say a word. Other staff members saw it, as well as his wife (grandma), daughter (mother of the children I was taking care of), and the other children. I was so shocked I froze. Visibly shaken, I called the woman I reported to (house manager). The children's mother apologized profusely, no one else said a word. I refused to work if the grandfather was visiting. I was tempted to leave but was more concerned about the children...

29. Kimberly GrahamJanuary 19,2023 at 5:52PM UTC

    Many years ago I joined a new company and my team included a "temp to perm" role. The individual was told that a decision would be made by the new manager (me) yet I was told by my director on day 1 that she wasn't a fit. So in essence, I was the scapegoat as a brand new manager 1 day into the job. I wanted to give this individual a fair opportunity yet quickly came to the conclusion she needed to go. On the day she was told I was asked to stay in my office with the door closed while this individual was told by the director and HR in the office next door. I soon heard yelling and banging as she stood up and apparently knocked chairs over on her way out. She was escorted out of the building and over the next few days left 50+ voice mails for the director. As a result, the director and I were both escorted to and from our cars for a few weeks. I was never the target of her anger even though it was my decision but her anger was directed at the director who gave her false hope. It was not a great way to start my new job . . . and it didn't last long.

30. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 6:28PM UTC

    What a world, what a world!! We're all just needing to make a living, and yet.....have to put up with ALL of this Nonsense! Simply, Disgusting!!

31. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 7:35PM UTC

    I was working as a server in a restaurant at the time while going to school. I was shoved into the walk-in refrigerator by one of the cooks. He trapped me in there and felt me up outside of my uniform, a long-sleeved button up shirt with vest and slacks with a shin length apron. I was yelling to stop and let me out and I could hear other kitchen staff outside laughing. I told the general manager and he laughed and asked me what I did to make him do that. The cook that assaulted me left not long after but was rehired a year or so later. I told the hiring manager what had happened but he brushed it off saying it must not have been a big deal and I could just ignore the guy if I was uncomfortable. I worked at the restaurant from age 19-24.

32. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 10:48PM UTC

    OMG. The world has changed since I was that age, but probably not enough. Now, if this happened to my child, I would be waiting for that guy in a dark alley after he got off work one night....

33. Vanessa PachecoJanuary 20,2023 at 5:48AM UTC

    I had a similar situation working graveyard shift at a Lyon's Restaurant in 1990 when I was 21. The line cook put my order up toward the back of the line, so, being 5'2", I had to step up on a step stool to grab the plate. Once I was up there, the busser/dishwasher grabbed me at the hips and started dry humping me. Meanwhile, the line cooks were laughing in amusement.

    Since it was 2 or 3 A.M. at the time, there were no managers or supervisors on site. Being young and naive, I had no idea what to do. Instead of reporting it, I just started spending my off time putting in applications at other restaurants and managed to get a better gig at a Good Earth Restaurant.

34. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 5:10AM UTC

    Not assaulted, but my supervisee whipped out a folding combat knife within arm's reach of my neck. I told him to put it away and he insisted it was okay. I checked our handbook after he left, and it was against policy. The next day he did the same thing, and I told him about the rules so he never showed it again. I told my boss and she did NOTHING. I had PTSD for two years which was triggered every time I heard a story about workplace violence. I finally told yhe story to someone in HR, who took it seriously and told me who I should report it to. She told me to report it to someone else and so it went. Someone high up in the org sent out an email blast just then saying how well prepared we were. I replied with the whole story, and magically HR decided they cared. Had a meeting that included my voss, and she claimed she didn't remember me telling her. Eventually I got fired from that job. That was the beginning of my slow realization that the organization was toxic and my boss would throw anybody under the bus before admitting to any inadequacy.

35. AnonymousJanuary 20,2023 at 9:53AM UTC

    Yes. I reported it to the AGM and it was a "he said, she said" due to the sexual nature. Nothing happened. It was also 1992 and I was 15. I should've involved the police.

36. Georgia SinghJanuary 20,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

    I was reading a journal article on the topic of women being harassed or assaulted in the workplace and the numbers provided shocked me: "8 in 10 women are harassed or assaulted at work." (So 80%). And I think we have to ask ourselves, is that yearly training working? I'm not sure that it is.

    I want you to keep this info in the back of your mind: if you are being attacked, it's real and you need to defend yourself. Know now that if someone touches you, fingerprints can be lifted. So, do not fear getting the police involved. Additionally, if you are going into a situation that concerns you, use your cell phone to record what's going on. Afterall, we are still in a "he said, she said" movement. While you may not have the right to record another person at work, they obviously don't care what they are doing to you...so protect yourself and your reputation.

37. IntentionGirl299847January 20,2023 at 11:30PM UTC

    Yes. They threw a jewelry tray at me and hit me with it after I refused to sign off on the deposit bag without counting it, I was the Repair Coordinator and keyholder and she was a part time whackadoodle that had a history of violence at other stores. she said she would be waiting for me outside, so I went and stuffed her in the open dumpster. She should have paid attention to my background LOL. Told the store manager and her assistant. It was all on camera so they fired her. Had to keep the store closed till all the jewelry was found. Ahhhh good times!

    No males have ever attacked me on the job, just the crazy woman who also was a thief.

38. AnonymousJanuary 22,2023 at 12:30AM UTC

    We need to understand the difference between an assault and a battery. I have been assaulted by a previous supervisor MANY times at work, so I did not expect much when I reported that she BATTERED me. I also reported that she had STOLEN, then returned, my personal effects.

    I was suspended for two weeks based on fabricated evidence. Once evidence revealed that I was subjected to workplace violence and harassment for most of the four years that I worked there, no one reversed the suspension.

    After the supervisor was reassigned, not FIRED, for assaulting and battering me, administrators began to see me for who I was and no longer believed the lies. I received a verbal apology for their misperceptions.

    HR still has NOT reinstated my time/pay. Working for the federal government is not what it is "caked up" to be. Those were the worst four years of my federal work career. I trusted them to do what was right and I still hear crickets.

    The situation may have panned out, but not in my favor, yet I was the one battered in the workplace. The "bureaucracy" is still hindering my restitution. I am told to let it go. Unfortunately, this post brought up the nightmares.