Punch up in the toilet

[tamade]

It’s a WWYD.

I manage a factory in China (locally owned) so I pretty much have carte blanche.

‘A’ came running into the offices covered in blood with a massive black eye, shouting “B hit me”. I had the ops manager get both of them into separate rooms and write statements.
B claims that A has been goading him based on some supposed medical issues (AIDS + Brain cancer) and has said that they don’t want him in their poker circle. He admits grabbing A’s crotch in revenge and running off (I have seen this on CCTV it happened it’s weird). Then he accuses A of taking and hiding his lunch tray and spitting in it. Then he admits to following A into the toilet and a confrontation which ends up with him punching A and a fight.

A’s story corroborates most of this but starts with the crotch grabbing. And he doesn’t admit it spitting in the lunch box.

Up until now I have considered A to be a steady pair of hands and a potential supervisor, B is a plodder but works well with his team. Both are in quite skilled roles that require training and I don’t need to be loosing manpower right now.

My first instinct is to sack them both on Monday. I also have the option of a heavy fine though I have always avoided messing with their pay up to now. But I want to send the strongest possible message of zero tolerance for bullying and violence.
against my gut is the fact that there are few alternatives jobs with similar earnings available in this town and they will need to retrain and their families may suffer.
It is late here, I’m about to turn in I might get to see some replies after brushing my teeth otherwise I’ll look forward to reading your advice in the morning

Just sack them, I'm surprised you even need to ask.

I can't imagine any manager I've ever met having to turn to a parenting website for advice on this.

Speechless really.

Sack them both

Sack the pair of them. If you really can't cope without them, fine them as heavily as possible. Nothing like a hit in the pocket to motivate them to behave.

Surely a fine is better than sacking?

Although this whole thing sounds like a fever dream!

Aye ok then.

I'd sack B. He sexually 6 physically assaulted A. If A has been bullying B that's not right but A could have come to his manager to complain. Instead he chose to put his hands on A. It's unacceptable.

Your a manager op you should know what to do , no need for a thread on it.

I guess it's normal in China to 'fine' staff for indiscretions or mistakes? Ie witholding their wages?

They need sacking if they are causing affray at work. One or both could sue you for not stopping them if you let them stay and they get seriously hurt?

Fining them is so far from acceptable. The only person I knew who did that to his staff was a straight up scammer employing people with no legal rights to work in that country.

Fine them AND sack them.

You wouldn't sack them for having a punch up at work and grabbing each others crotches.

Probably because they’re acting like a pair of children! 🤣

Sack them both obviously

A fine is better than sacking for sexual assault and physical violence??

Bloody hell.

What is the normal practice in China ?

Final warning type thing if either causes anymore trouble they'll both be sacked. Doesn't have to be between them just either one and they need to apologise to each other. Don't know if any of that will work in China but worth a go to keep trained workers.

It’s in China. As someone who has employed people in China I can confidently say people on MN can’t help you with this.

Don’t you have someone in the company who will deal with this? There will obviously be a strict hierarchy of decision making

But what is the evidence against A? Unless he admitted any of B’s allegations?

Well as I have said in my OP dismissal was my first thought. However even though I’m becoming more experienced in day to day management this is pretty much outside the norm and I’m asking for perspective (on a work forum)

Is this your decision alone? I assume there are processes that need to be followed, various people in the organisation may need to be involved, plus there may be "political" considerations that require sublety.

Dont "just sack them". You need to speak to them both individually to as certain the facts as best you can.
Dont be a manager who does things to instill fear in others, it's a really bad tactic.
If you only have the information which you have currently, either sack B or fine him heavily and give him a final warning that any recurring will mean he will be sacked.
A needs to know he was very close to being fined/sacked, that you are very disappointed as you had high hopes for him which are now held in abeyance as he needs to prove that he can handle colleagues without antagonising them and instead develop a team approach with everyone whether he likes them or not.
I'd ban poker at work - end of.

If you are not Chinese, but managing a factory in China, my first thought is about your good self.

Is your work permit etc all in order ?

If there is no evidence against A then you should sack B and investigate A further. You can't sack someone for being assaulted.