Me, too.

CORRECTION - What precautions can be taken to prevent a similar incident?

The response to this section of report regarding my sexual assault reads: “I have spoken with Tori about what she can do if such an incident occurs in the future and encouraged her to report such incidents to me within 24 hours. Tori filed a police report and the perpetrator admitted guilt. Tori is not pressing charges, but the perpetrator has been banned from mall property.”

Now, I know this wasn’t done in malice… I love the author and honestly think she meant no harm, but it made me mad enough to quit. Only, my resignation was not accepted. So because this response is so infuriating, how about some real suggestions that would be a better “CORRECTION”:

1. We can speak to our security team about making rounds past the store at closing and making sure that we provide a visual or verbal signal that all is well.
2. We can, as a team, designate a secondary “code word” to be used in the instance we are uncomfortable using the mall’s safe word because the assailant is a fellow mall employee who is familiar with the security safe word. This can be texted to the group and someone can call security on our behalf. Additionally, we could communicate this safe word to our security team so if we need to call them ourselves, we have an alternate option.
3. Individually, we could invest in keychain mace or a panic alarm. Or better yet, since we are often required to work alone, we could keep an air horn/panic alarm beneath the register for such an occasion where pushing the silent alarm is inappropriate but making a loud noise to attract the attention of help or startle the offender would be effective.
4. In a meeting, we could review self defense techniques and even arrange a training session with CMPD. In fact, we could speak to CMPD about offering a self defense course open to any mall employee who would like to attend.

And while we're at it…

DO OTHER EMPLOYEES PERFORMING SIMILAR JOBS NEED TO BE TRAINED ALSO?

The official answer to this: “Yes, all staff members will be trained and advised on how to handle situations where customers are harassing and/or making inappropriate advances.”

My answer to this?

We have created a plan to increase our overall safety and awareness as well as openly discussed the support resources available at the store level, corporate level and privately. We have assured our team that their safety and comfort is important to us and reminded them that ideally we would hope they report such incidents to us within 24 hours.

I know it might seem like semantics to some, but in order to be part of the solution, we have to stop making sexual assault the responsibility of the victim. I refuse to take responsibility for someone else’s offenses. I will, however, take responsibility for educating, protecting and healing myself. The proper corrective action? If there is a next time, I’m leaving him bloodied in the floor. And we can revisit the blood borne pathogens policy while I’m waiting for bail money.