Being assaulted at work is an emotionally upsetting and frightening experience that may leave lasting psychological scars. Seek medical care if necessary for injuries sustained as soon as possible and document all aspects of the incident to seek legal advice later.
Many companies have policies in place that prohibit workplace violence. If these rules are breached, this can constitute a breach of contract and be grounds for legal action against your employer.
Workplace Assault
Workplace violence is a widespread and serious issue that must be taken seriously and promptly by employers and employees alike. Aside from physical injuries, workplace assault can also have emotional and psychological ramifications. If you find yourself being attacked at work, seek medical help immediately while notifying your employer as soon as possible to file a workers’ compensation claim – including payments of medical bills as well as two-thirds of any lost wages that occur as a result of such assault.
In some situations, you may be eligible to bring criminal charges against your attacker. Provoke-ability will often play an integral role in such legal cases and usually enough evidence will exist for police arresting their perpetrator on suspicion of assault or battery. You may even qualify for assistance through your county crime victim fund.
If the attack happened at work, you can file a workers’ comp claim for your injuries. However, this depends on both how severe your injuries are and whether or not they were within the scope of employment – two key components to determine your legal rights in such an incident.
If you work in an industry more likely to experience violence, such as healthcare or social service/assistance, then additional rights beyond workers’ comp may apply to you. To find out if legal action may be possible in such an instance, seek advice from a personal injury lawyer immediately.
Discrimination
Experienced the trauma of being assaulted at work can have lasting psychological and physical ramifications, even after you are reinstated or fired from employment. Seek support from loved ones and prioritize self-care to process this trauma effectively. Furthermore, document the incident along with any injuries or damages you might have sustained – this way you’ll be able to show that this assault was unwarranted and violated your rights by your employer.
Report your assault to law enforcement; not only will this help make you feel safer, but it will serve as vital evidence if any legal action is pursued against the perpetrator(s). Employers have a legal obligation to provide safe workplace environments – any action by your employer which violates this duty could constitute unlawful termination and be grounds for legal action against them.
At this point, it may be advisable to contact an employment law and workplace harassment attorney who specializes in employment law and harassment claims. They will guide you through the legal process and help explain all available avenues of legal action, while getting you compensated for physical, emotional, and financial losses suffered due to your employer. Depending on the severity of injuries sustained and actions taken against them by their employers, damages such as lost wages, future earnings lost and punitive compensation could apply; please speak with an attorney regarding this possibility today!
Harassment
After being assaulted at work, it’s most important to prioritize taking care of both your physical and emotional well-being. Stay in a safe space, seek support from those nearby, focus on self-care methods such as exercising or practicing mindfulness/meditation techniques, spending time with loved ones, as well as prioritizing rest and recovery by not overworking yourself post traumatising event.
If it is possible, report the incident to your employer or appropriate authority within your company as soon as possible. Make sure that any witnesses or notes you have of the assault are included with your account of events. Harassment violates state and federal civil rights laws as well as criminal law – it includes unwanted conduct based on gender, race, religion, national origin or age as well as sexual orientation, pregnancy genetic information or disability status.
Once contacting your employer, it’s advisable to seek legal advice from an employment law or workplace harassment specialist attorney. They can guide you through the process, explain your legal options and help determine the most effective course of action going forward. Depending on the laws in your jurisdiction and depending on the specifics of your situation or complaint; filing discrimination or harassment complaints with local human rights commissions or even EEOC could be an option depending on how the situation plays out.
Retaliation
If a person is fired as an act of retaliation after reporting crimes or raising concerns about unsafe working conditions or employer misconduct, they could be eligible for substantial monetary compensation under both Connecticut law and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These two documents offer protections from this kind of behavior by employers.
Your injuries from a workplace assault should be documented and treated immediately; medical records could later help if you decide to file a workplace discrimination or retaliation claim.
Physical workplace attacks may be obvious examples of workplace retaliation; however, other forms are much less so. Retaliatory measures could include demotion to lower-level positions, curtailment of seniority privileges, reduced hours or salaries paid, as well as being passed over for promotions or pay raises due to raising concerns about workplace environments or illegal activities – these can all constitute forms of workplace retaliation that are far less obvious.
If you believe you have been the victim of workplace retaliation, contact Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau LLC immediately for legal representation. Our dedicated attorneys will aggressively represent your case while compassionately leading the process forward – fighting for your right to a safe and respectful work environment while fighting through to any necessary federal or state agencies for action against those responsible.
