I Hope She's All Right...

[Jay 2K Winger]

UPDATE.

I know some specifics now, and because I'm not sure if there's any ongoing investigations or whatnot, I'll try to be as vague as possible.

IDK called the store tonight and spoke with the MOD, MS. I don't know what the conversation was about, apart from IDK is coming back to work next week. What got me concerned about IDK's health was that it was a relay call. Since IDK isn't deaf, that told me she must have been hurt seriously enough that talking still wasn't an option. (Or at least talking loud enough to be heard on the phone?)

My coworker Hoss spoke to MS about the incident, to see what he could find out about details. Hoss then relayed some of them to me.

Apparently, IDK was being stalked by someone. That's all I feel comfortable saying, not wanting to reveal anything further.

Hoss and I have already talked about "buddying up" when the closing shift crew leaves at night, especially where our female coworkers are concerned. We want to be sure that what happened to IDK doesn't happen to anyone else.

[fireheart]

That's scary!

*sends hugs, good prayers and Sara Lee Cheesecake bites*

They're soft, so they can help her recover better

[Seshat]

Indeed. Please don't reveal anything which might impact on investigations. However, it's excellent that the prognosis has her back at work next week.

The buddy system sounds like an EXCELLENT idea. If anyone lives near her and can pick her up and drop her off, that sounds like an even BETTER idea.

Take care - well, it sounds like you are. Of yourself, and of your co-workers.

[boxxertrumps]

The hospital is better than the morgue.

Depending on what kind of laws/precedent set you have in your state, you might want to think about buying her a taser or pepperspray. Katana.

[Seshat]

A taser or pepperspray are no good if you don't know how to use them, and don't have the training to use them essentially reflexively.

I'd investigate self-defense courses, and find the ones that emphasise awareness, and getting the hell outta trouble and towards safety. Give her one of those as a group gift (it'll need to be a group gift, a good course is probably expensive.)

Also, "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin DeBecker.

[fireheart]

UPDATE.
Hoss and I have already talked about "buddying up" when the closing shift crew leaves at night, especially where our female coworkers are concerned. We want to be sure that what happened to IDK doesn't happen to anyone else.

If you aren't already leaving as a group, then try to do so. Maybe arrange for a "car watch."
If there's anyone who needs to go to the bus station nearby (if you have one), maybe arrange to either drop them off if they're on their own or walk as a group?

[Tsiyeria]

I'd investigate self-defense courses, and find the ones that emphasise awareness, and getting the hell outta trouble and towards safety. Give her one of those as a group gift (it'll need to be a group gift, a good course is probably expensive.)[/URL].

Check and see if there are any RAD courses in your area. It's a women's defense course. Not a bad one; I took it a year ago. It emphasizes exactly that: how to be aware of risks, and how to get away.

[tropicsgoddess]

OMG.. I'm glad IDK is alright...that's scary to say the least!

[Amina516]

Just getting around to reading this. Im glad she was found OK....

Is she up and running yet?

[Jay 2K Winger]

IDK has not yet returned to work. There's a possibility that when Hoss asked Manager MS if IDK was returning to work that he mistook Hoss about asking about another CW, whose first name is the same as IDK's. (This other CW HAS returned to the store.)

Hoss and I have instituted the buddy system at work when leaving, making sure none of our female CWs walk out to their cars alone after dark.

[Becks]

Hoss and I have instituted the buddy system at work when leaving, making sure none of our female CWs walk out to their cars alone after dark.

I'm sorry, but that should've been done a long time ago.

[Whiskey]

Hoss and I have already talked about "buddying up" when the closing shift crew leaves at night, especially where our female coworkers are concerned. We want to be sure that what happened to IDK doesn't happen to anyone else.

I was laughed at, at my store, because I didn't feel comfortable walking food out to parked cars are 3 in the morning. I still have them watch me when I leave work in the middle of the night until I'm in my car.

I'm sorry, but that should've been done a long time ago.

Exactly! I was called "paranoid" and "melodramatic" by half the male staff. But you know what, if you've never had to deal with that kind of behavior before you don't know what its like. It seems paranoid, but it really doesn't take much to get attacked/picked up/etc especially in the middle of the night.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I agree that the "buddy system" should have been instituted a long time ago, but what's done is done. We can't go back and retroactively put it into effect, but we can take extra precautions from here on out.

[fireheart]

Hoss and I have instituted the buddy system at work when leaving, making sure none of our female CWs walk out to their cars alone after dark.

I feel that we really should've done this with one of our staff members.

She's a sweet girl and has picked up a helluva lot quicker than most kids her age on the checkouts, but she's had to leave early a few times for transport reasons. Generally, this isn't much of an issue since Night Sup and I can usually do everything by ourselves, but the other night when she mentioned the issue, this is a rough rundown of what happened:

-Night Sup offered coworker his umbrella.
-NMOD offers to drive kid home since she doesn't live too far away (and he can get back into the store no problems)
-Night sup offers to get his fiancee to drive her home. (his fiancee also works for the company)
-NMOD offers AGAIN to drive her home.
-CW declines all of the above.
-Night Sup insists on taking the umbrella and refuses to let her leave without one.
-NMOD and I both agree at least on taking the umbrella.
-CW eventually agrees on the umbrella.
-I insist that she leaves a message with someone to ensure that she got home OK. (she didn't, but when I checked her facebook the next day, she was alive)

And I developed a newfound level of respect for Night Sup.

[Tsiyeria]

I was laughed at, at my store, because I didn't feel comfortable walking food out to parked cars are 3 in the morning...Exactly! I was called "paranoid" and "melodramatic" by half the male staff.

In my experience, guys usually don't "get it". Six large males cruising for some "fun" don't pose much of a threat to another large guy. But let it be three girls walking together, and it's a threatening situation.
Which everyone laughs about, and tells you that you're overreacting. Until the same guys FOLLOW YOU to the party you're going to and try to start a fight.

But no, that wasn't anything to call the cops over, or be ready for a fight about, or anything like that. Even the next day, one of the guys came up to me and said "You were really freaking out last night."