Resigned after Two Armed Robberies and Awarded Compensation of NIS 324,000
Adv. Yaakov Shnitman | Labor Law Specialist
Working at a gas station may seem simple and routine, but for a young employee at a Yellow convenience store, it turned into a traumatic experience with serious legal consequences. The employee, recently discharged from military service, began working under the government’s preferred employment program but was subjected to two separate armed robberies at his workplace. He eventually resigned and filed a claim that resulted in significant compensation.
During the first incident, armed and masked robbers entered the store during a night shift, assaulted the employee, and locked him in a storage room. Despite the traumatic event, the employee returned to work. The employer responded by assigning an armed security guard to the site. However, the guard was removed two weeks later, and a second robbery occurred shortly thereafter.
In the second incident, the employee managed to barricade himself in the back room and call the police. The robbers attempted to break in while he waited in fear for help to arrive. Although he was rescued unharmed, the psychological toll was severe. The employee did not return to work, began psychological treatment, and entered a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The employee filed a lawsuit claiming that the employers failed to provide a safe work environment. He argued that the workplace had a known history of security breaches and that proper and consistent security measures should have been maintained, especially during night shifts.
The Labor Court accepted the employee’s claims and rejected the employer’s defense. The court emphasized that removing the security guard after the first incident was unjustified, especially in light of previous similar cases at the same location. The court also found that there was no adequate shelter for emergencies and that the security measures in place were insufficient.
The court awarded the employee NIS 324,000 in compensation for mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, and future damages, as well as NIS 74,000 in legal expenses and attorney’s fees.
This case highlights the employer’s duty to ensure a safe working environment, particularly in high-risk settings. The Labor Court demonstrated its willingness to hold employers accountable not only for physical harm but also for psychological injuries resulting from workplace negligence.
