Teen slapped at work, what to do?

[Themadcleaner]

Hi, after some advice, particularly about an employers duty of care. Teen daughter was slapped at work by one of the joint owners, on the arm and reasonably hard because she started using the till without realising owner hadn't finished her transaction yet.
She came home really upset, which I can understand as in 30 years at work no employer has laid a finger on me. She told the assistant manager who she gets on well with and has been asked to go in later to talk about it with assistant manager and 2 x owners. I'd like to go in with her as she's under 18 and not great at standing up for herself. I hope they are planning to apologise properly and ensure it doesn't happen again. She likes the job and wants to stay until she finds another one. But other than calmly supporting her to factually say what happened what can I say?
I would think even slapping is assault? And her employers have a duty to protect her from that, rather than inflict it?!

I'd go to the meeting with her. As far as I am aware even over 18s can have a rep with them at a meeting (unsure on that!) but as she is under 18 I'd go.

I wouldn't call the police. No the employer should not have touched her but was it an actual slap or a swat away from the till (no still should not have made physical contact)? If at the till was a customer present? What did they make of the situation?

No employer should be slapping their staff

I cant believe people are minimising this

I agree with the minority on here, @shewasa99, @Ferngreen, @MissyCooperismyShero, @ouch321 (There may be others).
I think going to the police is a massive overreaction.

I'm not saying it's acceptable to slap. It isn't. But, yeah... massive overreaction by the majority on here imho.

I also think op going with the child is infantilising her. Although depends on age of child. 14, fine. 17 1/2 no.
I'd talk it through with the child, help then plan what to say, but not go in with them

I think the police.

I also think if they are an agent for the lottery, or a parcel company, or in London sell Oyster cards, then those organisations should be contacted.

God, there's always one.

I would demand an apology, some compensation and get your daughter to leave.
Both of you record the meeting secretly and show to the police if they don't apologise.

Not sure on the legalities, but if you go for a meeting can you not record it on your phone?

My worry is, if she stays and puts up with this first incident - won't they think she'll put up with more? Not to mention future young employees. Would they have done the same to an older male employee? I seriously doubt it.

Absolutely ridiculous to report to the police, full stop

I'd let her go on her own.

If it works out well, the AM points out it's wrong, the owner apologises and she is only ever trained by the AM in future it will be a massive confidence boost.

If she's not happy with the outcome there is still the option of your support / police.

Really interesting mix of perspectives. Meeting rearranged for tomorrow, they know im not letting her return to work and that I'm coming in with her to discuss it. The other( very nice, I've met him ) owner is apparently taking it very seriously. Up until now it's been a great place to work, flexible around college, well paid etc.
I'd like her to be able to walk away with her head held high. She's not keen on reporting it and already cringing at me getting involved!

And I can't believe people are maximising this.

It was a slap. OP's DD just needs to say don't do that to me, it's unacceptable and that will be the end of it. OP said it's probably cultural so they probably didn't realise we're such snowflakes in this country now.
Police indeed, they can't even cope with kids getting stabbed.

I'm not a "snowflake" because I prefer not to be slapped at work.

This

This

I was assaulted when I was 18 and working in a pub by a man who was covering for the landlord while he was on holiday.

I felt completely out of my depth about what to do and in the end I wrote to the brewery who took it incredibly seriously. They sent someone to talk to me about what happened before sacking him. Quite honestly I was surprised that it wasn't swept under the carpet. Looking back as an adult I wonder if he had done it before.

I have experience with the police for a variety of reasons and have never had an issue with them attending, including the things people claim they never attend like burglaries and welfare checks - they've attended both incredibly fast.

I have an ADT alarm and armed police turned up for that one when it was triggered in the night.

Men who slap young female employees deserve to be pulled up because you can bet your last shilling that they don't slap men or boys. The 'it's a cultural difference' defence won't wash because these employers chose to live in this culture, not their own.
There are lawyers who specialise in employment disputes and there are tribunals.
The employer must not be allowed to think that he can do as he pleases and get away with it.

Whoever smacked her probably thinks it’s fine to smack young people because you get away with it and it gets a point across by shame

it’s assault but I wouldn’t try to fight with them in any way I’d want her to get another job. If you try to argue with them nothing will come of it and they might even try to make your daughter look bad. I’d be worried it’d be stress for her all for nothing.

That's awful

Also would the owner do the same to their clients i.e. vulnerable elderly people

Totally agree

The amount of women that would take another person along for moral support in a situation like this and yet it’s apparently infantilising for you to go with her! As if. Why do we hold kids to higher standard than we do ourselves? Of course you should go.

These threads are always a good illustration of how violence against girls and women is normalised. Assault is in fact illegal. Even when the victim was making a mistake at work! OP for God's sake you know what to do.