Struck at work

[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.

You should raise it. She sounds deranged, and slapping someone hard enough for it to sting is awful.

Make a formal complaint, it has to go above the manager if they are personal friends. This is unacceptable behaviour.

Absolutely not OK. YANBU!!!! You need to tell (preferably in writing over email) the store manager that you were struck and you would like to know how the manager is going to handle this situation (and cc in your HR representative). Give a factual, dispassionate report of the events. If nothing still happens, write to the store managers boss and let her know that another employee struck you and the manager did nothing.

People like this get away with it because they have never had consequences for their actions. Do not work with this woman again.

Please do not just let it go. Do not let them tell you it was just a joke. It clearly was not.

Raise it with the area manager

Of course you need to raise it. If you don;t feel that you can raise it with the manager, do you know who the area manager is?

I volunteer in one of the large chains there's a safeguarding and whistleblowing helpline which all volunteers and staff are free to call at any time to raise concerns - being hit by another volunteer and the manager doing nothing definitely falls into that category.

If she had left one shop under a cloud and she has slapped you already - and it seems is making a power play, you need to deal with this ASAP. It was your hand today. Tomorrow it could be your face.

Thank-you everyone.

I will pop in today to speak to the manager and make it clear I am not comfortable working around her again owing to being hit. If she does nothing I will escalate it.

Yes, I think you should escalate this. She’s obviously more than just abrasive and it’s not on for her to hide behind her friend the manager to avoid consequences.

Q

I would make it clear that you want her to be discliplined. Do not let them talk you into ‘letting it go’ or agree to you moving to another outlet. If anyone should move, it should be her.

Roxanne Pallett is that you?

If not YANBU

You should definitely raise to the manager, and if she doesn't resolve it to you satisfaction then escalate it to higher than her. That's a shocking thing to happen. Sorry you had to go through that upset.