Cold Storage Suntec employee spotted assaulting older staff, chain says it stemmed from 'work-related disagreement'

An employee at Cold Storage Suntec City was allegedly spotted assaulting another staff member in front of shoppers.

A shopper, who gave her name as Gladys, said the incident happened on Aug. 31 at 3pm.

The first man, who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, allegedly walked past an older employee, in his 30s or 40s.

Without any apparent provocation, the former "repeatedly struck or kicked [the older man] in the back" with his knee.

"He then continued walking towards the back office as though nothing had happened," Gladys told Mothership.

Victim said it'd happened before

Gladys said that she and several other shoppers approached the man who'd been struck to check on him.

When they advised him to report the matter to his supervisor, he said that already done so after previous attacks, but to no avail.

"I have told, but they all said I lying," the man allegedly told her.

Gladys added that after the conversation, she decided to report the matter to Cold Storage, calling it "deeply [concerning] and [disturbing]".

"Regardless of the circumstances between the staff members, physical violence in the workplace should not be tolerated, particularly in a public-facing environment where customers may also witness such behaviour," she said.

Work-related disagreement: Cold Storage

In response to Mothership's queries, a Cold Storage spokesperson said it is aware of the incident.

An internal review showed that the incident arose from a "work-related disagreement" between two team members undergoing vocational placement, which resulted in physical contact.

No injuries were reported, the spokesperson added.

Cold Storage added that as part of its partnerships with community and educational institutions, it provides employment opportunities and vocational exposure to individuals with special learning needs.

"The safety and well-being of all our team members and customers remain our top priority. We take all workplaces conduct seriously.

Both team members have been spoken to and reminded of the importance of mutual respect and appropriate communication. We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure a supportive and safe working environment for all team members."