The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Does the employee have a duty to get involved ?

vranasaurus · February 24, 2009, 11:45 AM

It's one thing to call the police and ask the man to stop hitting the woman and to leave your store. Those would be appropriate actions.

Slapping a woman in the face is not an appropriate behavior but it is not life threatening. If the man had assaulted(or attempted to) the women in a way that could have resulted in serious injury or death then intervening in the manner this man did would certainly be justified. In the case of a simple assault one can afford to wait for the police to arrive.

February 24, 2009, 11:45 AM	#11
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	It's one thing to call the police and ask the man to stop hitting the woman and to leave your store. Those would be appropriate actions. Slapping a woman in the face is not an appropriate behavior but it is not life threatening. If the man had assaulted(or attempted to) the women in a way that could have resulted in serious injury or death then intervening in the manner this man did would certainly be justified. In the case of a simple assault one can afford to wait for the police to arrive.