If I was punched in the face by a resident at work, what do I do?
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If I was punched in the face by a resident at work, what do I do?
Work at an assisted living home. They let a mentally challenged man in and he does not belong there. He is violent and cries and screams almost 24/7. The other day he punched me for no reason and I got a bloody, fat, bruised lip. Who should I call, what can I do? I am desperate; I don’t want to work at a place where I feel unsafe, but I need the money. I reported it, and they said all I could do was put ice on it. There is many other unsafe things at this job. Including lack of gloves, cockroaches, etc.
Asked on July 18, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, New Jersey
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You need to contact the agency in your state who regulates and handles the investigation of assisted living facilities. You need to contact the Office of the State Attorney General, file a complaint or explain what occurred and find out if your state has whistleblower protection laws. In the interim, you need to begin looking elsewhere for employment (quietly albeit) and contact the health department and see if it has any oversight over portions of this facility.
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