Is this a form of assault?

Question

If an employer throws a piece of paper at you, because they are angry, with the intent of getting you pissed enough to respond in a violent way, would his action be a form of assault?

Answer 1

I think so- abuse of employees, harrassment, baiting and provoking them is abusive. Take it to the next level of bosses.
Good luck.
What if some freakish thing happened like it hit you in the eye and scratched your cornea? It certainly would have been an assault.

Answer 2

An assault is an act that would put you in apprehension of imminent battery. Battery is harmful or offensive contact. Here, the employer made you aware that a piece of paper was about to hit you, so that is imminent apprehension. It doesn't matter whether you were actually fearful of being harmed; a muscle bound hulk could still be assaulted by an elderly woman - all that matters is that you were aware that you were about to be battered. So whether this instance qualifies as an assault turns upon whether a balled up piece of paper hitting you could be considered harmful or offensive.
Being a piece of paper, it obviously was not going to be a harmful contact. So that just leaves offensive contact, which is defined as contact that is outside the social norms. An example of an offensive contact would be if your boss had walked over and began to stroke your hair while talking to you - that would have been a little to wierd. However, I think that you would have a hard time getting a cop or judge to seriously believe that a small wad of paper touching your person is offensive enough to warrant an action for assault.
So I am going to have to say no, this was not an assault.

But you should definately report him to his superiors. Keep a log of all of the stuff he does wrong at work so that when you go to complain you can give them specific examples instead of just generalities. Good Luck.

Answer 3

It would be according to the way your particular state's assault statue reads. In my state (Alabama), assault requires some level of physical injury. Hitting someone with an object, like a piece of paper, that results in no physical injury would be considered as harassment under the guidelines of the harassment statute.

Answer 4

Thats tricky. If his intent was to be violent and piss you off, then sure. But the fact that it is only paper is a little silly, and may not qualify as assault. Look up the assault definitions, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Maybe it is in there somewhere.

Answer 5

I really don't see where 'paper' can be used as a weapon in an assault but the intent behind it might. You really should consult a 'Personal Injury' lawyer and ask.

Answer 6

It is assault if the intention is malicious. Even raising of hand against another without actual physical contact in a malicious and threatening manner is assault.

Answer 7

I would certainly report them to a higher up. This is unnecessary and is indeed a form of abuse in the workplace.

Answer 8

In this politically correct world, sure. But in the real world, you should just get a life.