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Hi everyone,
would really appreciate some advice....
I work at a supermarket on the tills. One evening I was due to end my shift at 7pm. at 7.01pm I served my last customer and exited the till and, whilst still by the till area, was approached by a male who I did not recognise, he is not a member of staff. He accused me of 'stepping out in front of his wifes car', 'attacking his wife' and 'taking photographs of her car', the said that if I did it again he would break my legs. I told him that I did not know who his wife is and that I had never done such a thing. The male then said 'yes you did and if you do it again I will kill you'. He then headbutted me in the face. The force of the blow knocked me back and, in self defence, I struck him back once in the face with my right fist. The male, who is much larger than I, then grabbed me, picked me up and slammed me hard onto the floor on my back. He landed on top of me and continued to attack me, I struggled to get free but the male had me in a head lock. Eventually he was pulled off me and we were separated. Immediately following this a female, who I now know is his wife, stepped close to me and pointed at me and shouted that I had attacked her. I stated that I had not. I was then escorted to the store staff room by a few members of staff.
The police were called and when they arrived I told them that I wanted to press charges. As I was leaving with the police the duty manager called me into the managers office and handed me a piece of paper stating that I was suspended pending an investigation into the incident.
The following day I received a letter from the store (hand delivered) stating that I was suspended pending an investigation into my alleged gross misconduct for assaulting and verbally abusing a customer. It stated that I was not permitted to enter the store and that I must not contact any of my store colleagues.
I have union membership and so contacted my store union rep. Over the last week he has looked into this and relayed information to myself. The store management have told him that I should expect either a final written warning or dismissal for 'bringing the company into disrepute'.
I cannot believe that I am being made the scapegoat. My employment record at work, other than a few days off sick, is impeccable. I am never late for work and recently was commended for my customer service getting a 100% score in a recent mystery shopper visit.
Some of the details that my union rep told me today include - the female states that I had attacked her in the car park the previous day (this never happened). That I was recently involved in an incident whereby I was abusive and aggressive to my line manager on the shop floor (again this never happened).
The incident happened 8 days ago, since then I have been to hospital twice, my doctors twice, and to the dentist once, all due to the injuries suffered during this assault. I have also felt very depressed and upset (I cried for the first time in many years a few days after the assault) and on top of this, my only friends here where I live are friends from my place of work and I have been told I cannot speak to them.
I really do not know what to do. I have been employed by the company for 21 months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if you want to know more please ask.
Thank you
would really appreciate some advice....
I work at a supermarket on the tills. One evening I was due to end my shift at 7pm. at 7.01pm I served my last customer and exited the till and, whilst still by the till area, was approached by a male who I did not recognise, he is not a member of staff. He accused me of 'stepping out in front of his wifes car', 'attacking his wife' and 'taking photographs of her car', the said that if I did it again he would break my legs. I told him that I did not know who his wife is and that I had never done such a thing. The male then said 'yes you did and if you do it again I will kill you'. He then headbutted me in the face. The force of the blow knocked me back and, in self defence, I struck him back once in the face with my right fist. The male, who is much larger than I, then grabbed me, picked me up and slammed me hard onto the floor on my back. He landed on top of me and continued to attack me, I struggled to get free but the male had me in a head lock. Eventually he was pulled off me and we were separated. Immediately following this a female, who I now know is his wife, stepped close to me and pointed at me and shouted that I had attacked her. I stated that I had not. I was then escorted to the store staff room by a few members of staff.
The police were called and when they arrived I told them that I wanted to press charges. As I was leaving with the police the duty manager called me into the managers office and handed me a piece of paper stating that I was suspended pending an investigation into the incident.
The following day I received a letter from the store (hand delivered) stating that I was suspended pending an investigation into my alleged gross misconduct for assaulting and verbally abusing a customer. It stated that I was not permitted to enter the store and that I must not contact any of my store colleagues.
I have union membership and so contacted my store union rep. Over the last week he has looked into this and relayed information to myself. The store management have told him that I should expect either a final written warning or dismissal for 'bringing the company into disrepute'.
I cannot believe that I am being made the scapegoat. My employment record at work, other than a few days off sick, is impeccable. I am never late for work and recently was commended for my customer service getting a 100% score in a recent mystery shopper visit.
Some of the details that my union rep told me today include - the female states that I had attacked her in the car park the previous day (this never happened). That I was recently involved in an incident whereby I was abusive and aggressive to my line manager on the shop floor (again this never happened).
The incident happened 8 days ago, since then I have been to hospital twice, my doctors twice, and to the dentist once, all due to the injuries suffered during this assault. I have also felt very depressed and upset (I cried for the first time in many years a few days after the assault) and on top of this, my only friends here where I live are friends from my place of work and I have been told I cannot speak to them.
I really do not know what to do. I have been employed by the company for 21 months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if you want to know more please ask.
Thank you
I'm so very sorry
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