Feeling unsafe at work advice

[james87]

Hello! I hope I've come to the right place about this...

My employer is a large nightclub company in England, I work at one of the nightclubs in London as a barman.

I love working there and think it is fantastic, however the past couple of weeks they've put me on a bar which is very stressful. The way the bar is set out is away from all the others and has only me and one other person on the bar whilst the others have 4 staff, and much less customers than this bar.

Last week I was on the bar, with the usual shouting and abuse from customers complaining they've been waiting longer than everyone else etc when the person on the bar with me had to go and get more stock....which is a lengthy task as finding a manager is quite a tough task to do.

With him gone I was by myself, the abuse and shouting doubled as I had double the work load. I was....threatened that a customer would "get me outside", another blocked the only exit to the bar and told me that if I didn't serve him instantly I'd get really hurt, a load of guys threw ice at me which doesn't sound like much but I assure you ice can be quite painful. I tried to get the attention of a doorman, which was impossible to do seeing as they were all out of sight at their "posts". I pressed the panic alarm 3 times, only to have no one come and help me. When the people went away I tried to pour a drink and my hands shock uncontrollably, felt weak and out of breath like a mini panic attack which is very unlike me as I'm quite confident.

After my shift I told the manager who told me loads of times before he wouldn't put me on that bar again, only to be shunned and they admitted the panic buttons didn't work anyway....So...for a nightclub raking in millions of pounds a year they're hardly short of cash. I do in no way feel safe when I work on that bar, and with no way of getting help something really bad could happen to me.

The next day I went into work and guess where they had put me...yep you guessed it. I asked a manager why I'm always put on that bar when I'm really not comfortable being there etc and they said if you don't go on it you can go home and walked off. I said loudly I'd speak to the head manager and they still ignored me and walked off telling me to go home...

Now, what exactly are my rights here? If anyone could give me some advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[silvermusic]

Having worked in a few rough nightclubs behind the bar many many years ago I do know how you feel. Even though I'm well over 6ft and no shrinking violet I use to keep a baseball bat under the bar, and I'm not joking either. Only ever brought it out in anger once threatend to use it, that was enough once word got around the regulars.

 

[sjbeale]

Well you could write a grievance about your situation including the fact you have been told the panic buttons don't work which is health and safety issue (and for you a whistleblowing issue). You have the a statutory right to a safe working environment and if you assert this with your employer and they sack you because of it you can take them to an employment tribunal. You don't need a qualifying period of service to do this.