Struck at work yesterday

[PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair]

I volunteer at a charity shop for a day a week. Get on great with everyone and work non-stop. Recently a woman joined from another charity shop whereby it was clear she had left under a cloud.

She has quite an abrasive personality but I do my best to just get along.

Yesterday I was sorting through stock and tagging stuff when I needed use of one of the guns. I said ‘I just need to use this a sec’, reached for the gun and she slapped me hard on the back of the hand. She then smirked instead of being apologetic. MY responses was one of shock and I told her what on earth did she think she was doing, that it was unacceptable.

Obviously there was a bit of an atmosphere after this- I just got on with my tasks without engaging. About an hour later she asked me was anything wrong as she would hate to create upset. I calmly told her again that she had struck me for no reason and that yes I was offended.

She said sorry at this point. I feel really angry today. The shop manager was present and said nothing as this woman is a personal friend of hers.

Should I just let it be or am I minimising the behaviour? It wasn’t a a playful tap but a stinger and done intentionally with force. However I don’t want to overreact.

Thanks.

I'd warn her that if it happens again there will be retaliation and i would try to avoid being close to her. Nut job.

SORry meant to post this in AIBU. 🙂

You're not overreacting.
Nobody should be hitting you.

Well it's over and done with isn't it? You dealt with it and got an apology, and the shop manager knows about it.

Are you aware that you posted this in the style and beauty section?
I was wondering what vision of beauty could have struck you in your workplace

Thanks- I have reported it as posted in the wrong place.

You’re efnitely not BU. It’s very concerning behaviour, especially for a charity shop. What I mean by that is that charity shops not only serve the purpose of raising funds for the charity but also serve a vital service to the community - their staff (except for store manager) are all volunteers. Many are those who may otherwise not be able to work in a regular shop. The hours/days they volunteer gives them a sense of purpose, many in our area also have DofE students volunteering to satisfy their volunteering hours - then use this experience to help them find Saturday jobs. Some volunteers are elderly, gives them purpose and structure to their week. A few near us also have vulnerable adults volunteering that helps them out if their shell, gives purpose/structure and builds confidence. Having an aggressive volunteer who’s behaviour goes unchecked is not a good thing.

squishee

Jesus are you the one that hit OP? Bitter person you

YADNBU.

I would tell the manager either she goes or I would. There will be plenty of places crying out for volunteers. You do not have to put up with this.

THAnk-you I will pop in today and make it clear I am no longer prepared to work alongside her.

You need to raise a complaint . Manager's friendship needs to be set aside when managing the volunteers.

Yes do that. She’s assaulted you, you need to lodge a formal complaint.

Well it's over and done with isn't it?

Not for me it would not be. You can't go making demands that she gets sacked or you leave, but you can make an official complaint with the manager. Find out the procedure and ensure she follows it.

There needs to be a record of this.

Is the manager the main and only boss? Is there an area manager or something? Have you been issued with a Grievance Policy?

I would write a statement including the words “ as witnessed by the shop manager xxxx”.

But the problem is, the woman and th manager will probably minimise it to ‘a playful tap’. And the manager protect her friend.

You could raise it in supervision with your manager and let her know that it hurt, you were upset and you need to know that your manager will speak to the other volunteer.

Were there any other witnesses?

Your manager needs to deal with this, regardless of whether this other woman is her friend or not.

There needs to be some record. You mention another shop so that suggests your manager will also have a manager.

So raise the issue with the manager, in writing and emphasise that it hurt. You can escalate this then, if there's no guarantee that it won't happen again.

I would make a formal complaint!!!!

Awful.

It was an awful thing for her to do. I wouldn't work with someone who struck me, you wouldn't be concerned if it had just been a tap on the hand. Definitely take it up with management.

A formal complaint in writing with a request for the manager to outline what action they will take to ensure such an incident never happens again.

If you get no joy there then a copy to the charity's head office. Keep it factual and include all the details.

This should be dealt with like an workplace grievance. If the charity doesn't have a policy on this then they really should. I don't care if it's unpaid, voluntary work they have an obligation to safeguard all their workers.

I agree with @KM99
Formal complaint in writing.

Absolutely, put it in writing. And copy it to head office.

YANBU Nobody has the right to hit you and your manager needs to be made aware that she HAS TO tell the woman who struck you to NEVER behave like that again or leave and that if it happens again she will be charged with assault.

Leave and go work for someone else for money. If that type of thing happens the manager isnt competent and you could get hurt if you are told to do things the wrong way.

Definitely go down the formal route.

It sounds like she isn’t safe to be let loose on the public

As I said on the other thread - if it's one of the large, national charities there will be a safeguarding and whistleblowing number you can call. The information should be on the staff noticeboard.

I'd be more concerned that the manager had witnessed this and done nothing.