workplace violence.

The Diabolical Monocle · 14-12-2014 1:08am #1

It occurred to me today that violence in the workplace is more often reported in foreign media than here in little old Ireland, is it the case that it is less prevalent here or just under-reported.

Certainly we hear of street violence and domestic violence, and workplace sexual harassment but separately is workplace physical violence and threats of violence remaining hidden.

Ive read in foreign media about it,(sous-chefs getting clattered by the chef in France, maids being beaten in Qatar) but never seen much about it in Irish media.

But surely it exists.
Have you been on either end of the workplace violence.
Has your boss thumped you in the back of the head for being late.
Have you kicked you boss up the hole in response to a request for overtime.

For example - I once met a slightly unhinged fellow who broke his bosses nose near the end of his last day.

Anyone with any genuine tales of such workplace shenanigans, do tell.

(bouncers and other professional arsekickers excluded of course - workplace violence is kind of a given in that role).

Sheep Lover · 14-12-2014 1:22am

I'm a dominatrix, I experience workplace violence daily.

Frynge · 14-12-2014 1:25am

Sheep Lover wrote: »

I'm a dominatrix, I experience workplace violence daily.

A sheep tying people up to just to get off......

I've heard everything now.

Sir Osis of Liver. · 14-12-2014 1:30am

Where's the poll?

Venus In Furs · 14-12-2014 1:30am

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

It occurred to me today that violence in the workplace is more often reported in foreign media than here in little old Ireland, is it the case that it is less prevalent here or just under-reported.

What kind of workplace violence would be reported in foreign media? Maids and other migrant workers being treated appallingly in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE is not par for the course here (not denying it might happen though) - it's noteworthy when it happens because of the sheer human rights abuse this constitutes.
Workplace violence is doubtfully a regular occurrence here, seeing as the employee would have grounds to get asses fired.

I knew of a chef years ago all right who brandished a knife at another staff member - chef was out on his ear instantly.

joe stodge · 14-12-2014 1:37am

I seen 2 polish co-workers have a digging match over the other being ****e at his job.

We work nights and one was fed up taking the slack.

There was no mangers there, so after all was done they got back to silent work and it was never reported.

corner of hells · 14-12-2014 1:38am

I've given myself a few electric shocks , dunno if thats violence or stupidity.

The worst shock involved me stripping a live cable and touching the non insulated part of the pliers at the same time. I got a shock , a burn and fell of a ladder in one go.

Also an apprentice I was working with, hit a chargehand with a hammer in front of me .The damage a hammer can do to a head .

The Diabolical Monocle · 14-12-2014 1:57am

corner of hells wrote: »

I've given myself a few electric shocks , dunno if thats violence or stupidity.

The worst shock involved me stripping a live cable and touching the non insulated part of the pliers at the same time. I got a shock , a burn and fell of a ladder in one go.

Also an apprentice I was working with, hit a chargehand with a hammer in front of me .The damage a hammer can do to a head .

:eek: now thats some workplace violence.

probably should go in the workplace attempted murder thread.

Yurt2 · 14-12-2014 2:41am

Years and years ago working in a petrol garage, a newbie working the till had a dispute with a middle aged woman over something or other. She stormed off in a huff, he picked up the choc ice she left on the counter and dinged her on the back of the head right before she got to the door. The way he threw it as well, it was like a ninja throwing one of those throwing stars.

berger89 · 14-12-2014 2:52am

I don't think it's prevalent here. i think we've gotten a bit too American in Ireland..and if we said boo to each other we'd get sued.
I think verbal abuse is more common that violence, without a doubt. things are often said "jokingly" but as my mam says, half coding, whole in earnest. People can get away with it more if its said..whereas if you hit someone..you obviously wont get away with that too handy

The Moldy Gowl · 14-12-2014 2:56am

Yurt! wrote: »

Years and years ago working in a petrol garage, a newbie working the till had a dispute with a middle aged woman over something or other. She stormed off in a huff, he picked up the choc ice she left on the counter and dinged her on the back of the head right before she got to the door. The way he threw it as well, it was like a ninja throwing one of those throwing stars.

Hahaha worked in topaz for a few months before in a rough area of limerick. Have told some lads to piss off

niallo27 · 14-12-2014 3:03am

It's more of a mental thing in ireland. The ***** will grind you down mentally. Irish bosses are the worst in the world.

Ruu · 14-12-2014 3:05am

I organise a fight club, you see the first rule is..oh shi....

SpaceTime · 14-12-2014 3:35am

Highly unlikely as you'd basically find the employer being sued from here to hell and back again.

RedemptionZ · 14-12-2014 5:33am

niallo27 wrote: »

It's more of a mental thing in ireland. The ***** will grind you down mentally. Irish bosses are the worst in the world.

Sigh.

Never seen or heard of workplace violence in Ireland. Really doubt it's common in any 'legal' workplaces. The amount of money that could be earned by the worker assaulted, we would've heard about it by now.

eternal · 14-12-2014 5:44am

I worked with a foreign illegal who threatened to follow me home, break my neck and 'fcking kill me'. Nothing was done about it.

niallo27 · 14-12-2014 6:00am

RedemptionZ wrote: »

Sigh.

Never seen or heard of workplace violence in Ireland. Really doubt it's common in any 'legal' workplaces. The amount of money that could be earned by the worker assaulted, we would've heard about it by now.

I never mentioned physical violence.

AndonHandon · 14-12-2014 6:10am

I spit roasted an Eastern European female colleague with a fellow colleague. Does that count? Kinky bitch.

J Mysterio · 14-12-2014 6:11am

Ho ho!

niallo27 · 14-12-2014 6:16am

AndonHandon wrote: »

I spit roasted an Eastern European female colleague with a fellow colleague. Does that count? Kinky bitch.

Did you make eye contact during.

blade1 · 14-12-2014 7:30am

Years ago a guy I worked with came up to me waving a knife and asked me "what would you do if I attacked you with this?"
I replied "This" and head butted him into the nose!

Oddly enough,he never asked me again!:pac:

whiskeyman · 14-12-2014 9:44am

Yurt! wrote: »

Years and years ago working in a petrol garage, a newbie working the till had a dispute with a middle aged woman over something or other. She stormed off in a huff, he picked up the choc ice she left on the counter and dinged her on the back of the head right before she got to the door. The way he threw it as well, it was like a ninja throwing one of those throwing stars.

Could have killed her if it was a Magnum

pajor · 14-12-2014 9:53am

whiskeyman wrote: »

Could have killed her if it was a Magnum

"You've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"

Ohhh you mean a different sort of Magnum! :pac:

cloud493 · 14-12-2014 9:58am

Not work place violence in the sense of my boss decking me, or me decking my boss, but my shop is in such a location I've been assaulted by 'customers' more than once, had eggs thrown at me, all sorts. I believe one of my colleagues kicked the ****e out of another a while back for doing something with his girlfriend, but I didn't see it happen so.

Jawgap · 14-12-2014 10:00am

I worked in hotels in the late 1980s, early 90s in Dublin and there were always fights going on!! A few examples stand out

......two chefs started fighting and it ended when one was trying to push the others head into a deepfat fryer, only to get clobbered by a roll of tinfoil the other guy managed to grab and swing at the last minute.

.....the KP who smacked a waiter with a heavy based frying pan for slagging him off just once too often.

....the waiter who made a derogatory remark about a female commis chef without realising one of the other chefs was going out with her - he hopped the hotplate and chased him through the restaurant and lobby with a cleaver

.....the guest who propositioned a waitress and had a pot of hot coffee dumped in his lap in response (there was a huge payout for that one)

and my own favourite......

....the commis chef who back answered the executive chef and had a pot of hot tea flung at him - luckily I turned and it hit my back instead of my head

Happy days

fineso.mom · 14-12-2014 10:01am

I've been hit, kicked ,bitten,screamed at, scratched,puked on and weeed on at work .....still love my job though. Pre-school kids are great fun most of the time.

SimonTemplar · 14-12-2014 10:05am

The closest I've come to workplace violence was when I was teenager working in a supermarket and the general manager dragged me through the store by the arm.

It was my first job so I did nothing about it but he wouldn't have gotten away with it now. I actually regret not standing up to myself.

spurious · 14-12-2014 10:17am

When I was teaching, a number of colleagues in my school were assaulted by some of the charmers that attend our schools. Nothing was done of course - they weren't even expelled.

A teacher was stabbed in a neighbouring school - that also went unreported to the guards. Many incidents are hushed up, for fear of damaging public image of schools. Dog eat dog when it comes to getting punters in the door.

Soft Falling Rain · 14-12-2014 10:20am

Nah, only regular meltdowns and strops.

_Brian · 14-12-2014 10:21am

I worked in a large multinational and over a month of night shifts it wasn't unusual for tempers to flare.
Over 13 years I saw maybe half a dozen bouts of fists, wrestling and lads being hit with stuff with proper anger Across the whole factory it would happen weekly.

PixelTrawler · 14-12-2014 10:25am

I work from home. My cat lives in my office. She scrapes with her claws and draws blood sometimes. Shes pretty violent...

RedemptionZ · 14-12-2014 7:19pm

niallo27 wrote: »

I never mentioned physical violence.

Yes but what exactly makes Irish bosses the worst in the world? I mean that's such a sweeping generalisation and there's no evidence to back it up.

Galwayguy35 · 14-12-2014 7:27pm

Last job I worked in 2 lads sorted things out with a few slaps, it was over in a few minutes and we all got back to work, what happens on the floor stays there no need to be a rat and go reporting things.

pharmaton · 14-12-2014 7:39pm

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Last job I worked in 2 lads sorted things out with a few slaps, it was over in a few minutes and we all got back to work, what happens on the floor stays there no need to be a rat and go reporting things.

That's got to be the most dickish thing I've ever heard, do you work in a nightclub? If I was assulted in work (or anywhere) I'd be pressing charges without question

Galwayguy35 · 14-12-2014 7:43pm

pharmaton wrote: »

That's got to be the most dickish thing I've ever heard, do you work in a nightclub? If I was assulted in work (or anywhere) I'd be pressing charges without question

No.

Well it was up to the 2 involved if they wanted to report it, nothing to do with me I wasn't going to go running back telling what happened.

SEPT 23 1989 · 14-12-2014 7:57pm

pharmaton wrote: »

That's got to be the most dickish thing I've ever heard, do you work in a nightclub? If I was assulted in work (or anywhere) I'd be pressing charges without question

nothing wrong with two bucks sorting out a problem with a good dust up

UCDVet · 14-12-2014 8:06pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

nothing wrong with two bucks sorting out a problem with a good dust up

Agreed. As long as both are willing participants, no weapons, no fighting after the fight is over....it seems fine to me.

pharmaton · 14-12-2014 8:11pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

nothing wrong with two bucks sorting out a problem with a good dust up

No problems boss, I expect down on the site that's how problems are resolved but in civilized society we have laws to see that violence isn't used as a way of "fixing" things.

Venus In Furs · 14-12-2014 8:11pm

niallo27 wrote: »

It's more of a mental thing in ireland. The ***** will grind you down mentally. Irish bosses are the worst in the world.

Well I can't agree or disagree when I'm not aware of all the other bosses in the world, but I'd say American bosses are up there too.

AndonHandon wrote: »

I spit roasted an Eastern European female colleague with a fellow colleague. Does that count? Kinky bitch.

Well no because it's not violence.

porsche959 · 14-12-2014 8:19pm

Jawgap wrote: »

I worked in hotels in the late 1980s, early 90s in Dublin and there were always fights going on!! A few examples stand out

......two chefs started fighting and it ended when one was trying to push the others head into a deepfat fryer, only to get clobbered by a roll of tinfoil the other guy managed to grab and swing at the last minute.

.....the KP who smacked a waiter with a heavy based frying pan for slagging him off just once too often.

....the waiter who made a derogatory remark about a female commis chef without realising one of the other chefs was going out with her - he hopped the hotplate and chased him through the restaurant and lobby with a cleaver

.....the guest who propositioned a waitress and had a pot of hot coffee dumped in his lap in response (there was a huge payout for that one)

and my own favourite......

....the commis chef who back answered the executive chef and had a pot of hot tea flung at him - luckily I turned and it hit my back instead of my head

Happy days

Catering does seem to attract hot-headed personalities, I'm getting visions of this Monty Python clip (@3:40)

:

Jawgap · 14-12-2014 8:46pm

porsche959 wrote: »

Catering does seem to attract hot-headed personalities, I'm getting visions of this Monty Python clip (@3:40) :

It's the heat.......it drives people nuts!!!

Going Strong · 15-12-2014 10:48am

I had a wooden mallet flung at me once in the storeroom. Luckily, I'd seen it coming so ducked just in time. The thrower claimed it had 'slipped'. He was a complete nutter though with a rotten temper. He kicked another colleague in the lower back and almost knocked them down a flight of stairs but passed it off as an 'accident'. He left suddenly after being accused of sexually-harassing a couple of female colleagues and we never heard from him again.

A different job featured a permanently-angry bloke who shouted abuse at everyone in the foulest language and would throw objects to get your attention, CD cases, floppy disks, pens, plastic trays etc. Eventually management had a chat with him and he "Left to pursue other interests" but not before sending a company-wide email listing all our (many, many, many) 'faults' and wishing bankruptcy and destitution on the lot of us for not being as brilliant as him.

workplace violence.

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