Rehbock & Wilson
Rehbock & Wilson
Rehbock & Wilson
Serving The Alaskan Worker Since 1970

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Dealing with violent customers requires more than one worker

On Behalf of | May 30, 2019 | Workplace Safety |

You often see most work injuries that require compensation come as a result of a reckless co-worker or employer not properly preparing themselves and the other employees for the dangerous environment. However, some injuries come from the people the workers are serving.

In massive workplaces such as large department stores or hotels, there is plenty of room for customers that feel like they can get away with violent actions. If you must respond to the scene quickly since security hasn’t showed up yet, it is crucial that you do not do so alone. It will have a large impact on how the situation is dealt with and your chances of getting workers’ compensation if you are injured in the process.

A hazardous hotel room

Last month provides an example of the importance of bringing a coworker to an incident involving an unruly customer. In mid-April, a guest sent a noise complaint to a hotel manager in Bethel in the early hours of the morning. The manager took another employee with him to talk to the loud visitors and found them in the middle of a drunken dispute. As he warned them that they did not allow alcohol on the premises, one of the guests savagely attacked him.

The manager sent the employee to contact the police, who arrested the two guests that now face charges for first and second-degree assault. The manager received workers’ compensation to help him recover from his fractured skull and broken jaw.

A cautious response

Had there not been another employee there to assist and witness the ordeal, this Alaskan hotel manager might have had a harder time recovering both physically and financially. Not only did they witness enough to contact authorities immediately, but their testimony likely proved vital when the manager filed for workers’ compensation.

Filing a claim after a fight is difficult for many employees given the context of the fight’s nature and who threw the first punch. Since there was someone there to witness the manager clearly being the victim, it made the process a lot less difficult.

If you’re struggling to file a claim for compensation after workplace violence from an unruly customer or coworker, make sure you find the right legal assistance that has experience helping employees that suffer from workplace violence.