To be angry & upset at how this was handled..

[despondentatwork]

Reported an incident at work. I am a lone worker & was inappropriately touched by a male client. Initially felt supported after verbal reassurance of what would happen to perpetrator. After 24hrs all promised action & communication ceased...I brought it up daily asking for information. Was made to feel like I was making a fuss about nothing at this point & fobbed off. I'm now off sick-no sleep/palpitations all week. Turns out this client was given a choice WRT whether he should continue to be seen by the Company. Apparently he was 'advised' it would be wise for him not to return. But that management were waiting on his feedback & decision & had nothing to tell me in the interim. He decided to leave, it seems. So now they want me back to work. I'm really upset-I've worked there 10years. AIBU?

I don't know what to say to help you but YANBU, you have a right to be and feel safe at work.

I left a place of work when something similar happened. Management actually laughed when I told them so I left sighting I didn't feel my safety was important to them.

Start putting questions in writing rather than verbally. Have you looked at the policy for lone working and incident management? How long have you been off sick for this?

I have been off for a week. Management now want to meet with me to discuss the incident...at the moment I really don't feel I can or wish to return. Possibly ever. It's the last straw: staff feel undervalued & there have been lots of petty incidents which have upset staff but haven't been addressed. Unfortunately it's not an organisation with a lot of email communication so no complaints in writing AFAIK. Mostly verbal. So it's a wider issue, but not sure I can discuss this with them next week? The you all for taking the time to reply. No Policies for staff safety, and when I mentioned a Significant Event form I almost got a raised eyebrow.

I did email after it happened & stated I wanted to make a complaint. Got no written reply, but was contacted by phone.

Investigations take time and the person doing the investigation needs to maintain confidentiality until such a time as they can present their conclusions. They are often unable to give a daily "drip-feed". Instances of "inappropriate touching" are very difficult to prove because the offender is usually careful enough to do it somewhere where there are no witnesses or CCTV, eg lone-workers.

Employers have to be very careful and should have policies which detail how investigations be handled, what support should be given, etc. etc. If they don't have a proper policy, or don't follow it, you may be able to take them to a tribunal.

Have you reported the incident to the police? It would certainly encourage your employer to take it seriously.

I think you're being a bit unrealistic OP although I can understand why you're upset.

Put yourself for a minute in your company's shoes. What their obligations are - to both the client and to you, the employee. They have to do their due diligence and make their investigations. They already have the information from you, they need to speak to the client to find out a) from his side what happened and b) work out how to manage his continued interactions with the company and their staff.

That takes a bit of time and you asking every day wasn't going to achieve the outcome any quicker.

Companies who have a 'caring' role can't just jettison their clients, there are conditions and service level agreements that preclude that. They have to give notice, warnings, etc. If the client had continued to want to stay with the company's care then the company would have looked at their duty to you and probably found another employee to take over your role with the client.

I think if you leave the company you will be unreasonable but it is your decision to make. Just don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Sorry this happened to you OP. Could you report to the police? If you were sexually assaulted, this is a criminal matter.

I know that no one should just touch anyone but was it sexual? If it was go to the police, he will likely do it again if he gets away with it.

I had a somewhat similar thing happen and there was never a refusal to communicate what was happening. If there had been a point where I couldn't be told what was happening for any reason I'm sure I'd have been told that as well. I see no reason why someone can't be told what point of the process the complaint is at. YANBU.

I really feel for you OP- I hope this will be dealt with appropriately but if not I'd also 2nd making a report yourself.

They are often unable to give a daily "drip-feed".

But they could explain this and say, "we are investigating, and this takes time - we will tell you when this has finished, and we will give you an update every Friday until it is completed," or something - something which gives an indication they are taking it seriously and recognises the OP's concerns.

I would agree you should try to find out what their lone working and incident management policies are. If you're in a union, please contact them. And if possible, you should return to work to discuss the incident. If you really don't feel able, you need to see someone like your GP. You can't just stay off work without a reason. Plus - this may have been poorly handled, but it should be helpful to both you and the employer to review it and see what could be done better in future. Give them a chance to get it right.

If you were assaulted I'd report to the police as well.

Report to the police. Print off your email incase in dissappears.

I'd also go to the police in a situation like this. They will investigate - it may be that there would be insufficient evidence to prosecute, but at least the git who assaulted you will learn that there are consequences to his actions. I wonder if he's done this type of thing before?

Do you have a union rep you can take into the meeting with you, or a friend who can help support you? You need to let hem know how this has impacted you which may be tricky if you feel ganged up on or pressured to sweep it under the carpet/ like what you are feeling isn't valid.

Thx All. I realise I'm seeing this from my viewpoint only. And that my employers are duty bound to view from both POV. Ebear has hit the nail on the head though: a little glimmer of support from them for how I was feeling & the effect the issue had on me would have gone a long way. And I might have been in work this week. Instead I felt like I had been abandoned & went to pieces. By Friday (having not slept all week) I couldn't cope with their cold attitude any longer. I have spoken to ,y Union. Not the Police. TBH, I don't want it to go that far. I didn't even want my Union involved, but felt I was getting nowhere on my own. I think the only reason they've actually asked to meet next week is because they're aware I've taken advice from my Union. And because they need me back on duty. I'm just not sure how to approach the meeting: I don't want it to be Formal & militant so I haven't asked my Rep along (but did discuss it with her). I guess if it develops to a Grievance process it'll have to involve her. I'm so sad it's come to this TBH. I sent a sick line in earlier this week, so haven't just abandoned ship. I also did speak to my manager at the start of the week to explain the situation. They are coming to see me at my home & have asked if my husband can be there; not sure how appropriate that is, but I guess they can't ask me to come to work.

My Union have also advised Police.....