Workplace Assault

There is one legal definition of assault in NZ, as follows:

Assault means the act of intentionally applying or attempting to apply force to the person of another, directly or indirectly, or threatening by any act or gesture to apply such force to the person of another, if the person making the threat has, or causes the other to believe on reasonable grounds that he or she has, present ability to effect his or her purpose; and ‘to assault’ has a corresponding meaning.

Assaults can occur anywhere, including the workplace. No matter where the assault takes place or the peripheral circumstances surrounding the act, there is no degradation of the definition.

There are numerous ways one person can assault another, the obvious way is to punch, kick or slap for example. It is not necessary however for the offender to physically touch the victim for the assault to have been committed. A prime example of this is if the offender pulls a chair out from beneath the victim as they are about to sit down, causing them to land on the floor, constitutes an assault.

Serious assaults should of course be reported to Police.

Karapiti can assist any employer in navigating through the definition of assault and any potential investigation that may ensue.