Reply to: physical abuse at work

[RichardCranium]

Presumably because of this:

Fairy nuffski. Missed that. Ta.

[Mr.Whippy]

That was a bit random.

Why do you refer to PMs?

Presumably because of this:

forget that either take em outside and leather em or get your mates to do it for you.

[minestrone]

Don't let it happen again.

Hard to say what to do when the situation is not totally described but you should be sorting this now. COnsider speaking to a joint manager and if it was criminal assault consider speaking to the police. Do whatever you have to to get this stopped.

[RichardCranium]

....and people wonder why project managers have got a bad name in some quarters?

That was a bit random.

Why do you refer to PMs?

[BolshieBastard]

In my last role I was getting dissed in emails by a developer in the team. These were being copied to other people I had to deal with and it wasnt on to be frank.

I was quite happy to have it out with him in the car park but decided to be professional about it and take it to HR with a couple of examples of the mails.

Suffice to say they came down hard on him.

So, my advice is always be professional about it and dont fall for this bollocks that contractors dont get involved in such things.

[jmo21]

Just can't imagine something like that in this day and age. Verbal abuse sure, but physical?!

Hope everything works out for you, some good advice above.

[northernladuk]

To what degree of assault are we talking about.

Did someone ping an elastic band across the room and it accidentaly hit you in the arm. Or was it a big fist clean across the face. Presumably somewhere in between.

You shouldn't have to put up with either, but if it was at the very minor end of the scale, you'll look a right plonker going to HR.

WHS. Good post.

Evidence is what you need most if you are going to take it further. Gettin the permies to drop another permie in it in a case of abuse against a contractor is going to be very difficult but again we don't know what level we are talking about here.

[computerdog]

Thanks all for your responses. We are both contractors (one being much more senior than me) and it was a bit more than an elastic ping across the desk (I can handle that). Will deal with it internally first before going to the police.

Thanks again for the replies.

[d000hg]

If you bring the police in immediately, you are a bit screwed in terms of letting the company deal with the culprit without losing face - which means a chance you'll be dropped too. Doing it internally with the HR director and their/your line managers and making it absolutely clear you will report it to the managing director and then police if nothing happens would be my approach.

[centurian]

To what degree of assault are we talking about.

Did someone ping an elastic band across the room and it accidentaly hit you in the arm. Or was it a big fist clean across the face. Presumably somewhere in between.

You shouldn't have to put up with either, but if it was at the very minor end of the scale, you'll look a right plonker going to HR.

[thunderlizard]

Is the bully also a contractor?

If so, should he not go to their line manager?

If that is the case, wouldn't it be better to go straight to the police? In addition to their superior powers of punishment, you'd avoid involving the client in something that's probably not their responsibility. Well, you'd probably still involve them in the evidence-gathering but at least you wouldn't be passing the buck.

[Badger]

In addition to RC's, "If there's anything to see..." take photos and date them.

Best of luck

[Clippy]

Hi there,

I was just wondering if someone might be able to help with pointing me in the right direction as I was physically abused at work recently.

Many Thanks for your help in advance

Is the bully also a contractor?

If so, should he not go to their line manager?

[SuperZ]

Take it to HR.
If they`re any good the person will be gone in no time, if bad they`ll be let off with a warning, or should that be the other way around?

[original PM]

so like what someone punches you and you run to HR??

I would never instigate violence but if someone tries to use it as a 'motivational' tool then you have to stop it asap - and one of the ways to do this is to give them a taste of their own medicine.