Practices must protect staff, say lawyers

Employment law specialists have spelt out UK practices' responsibilities for employee welfare after an optical practice in Australia was ordered to pay a former employee £250,000 in damages following an assault.

The Supreme Court of Queensland found the Global Eyes practice failed to supply adequate security in 2005 when the sexual assault took place.

The case centres around a female employee in her 40s, working alone in the practice, who was followed into a back room by a 70-year old customer. The customer was charged with sexual assault but died before the trial.

The employee said the assault had left her unable to work in optometric practices.