Santa Barbara, California – A Santa Barbara Airport employee was verbally assaulted by a traveler, in what appears to be the latest incident in a string of workplace grievances caused by mismanagement and overworking employees.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Saturday night as the employee was carrying out his duties. The traveler, whose identity has not been disclosed, became irate and began yelling and physically threatening the employee.
In a statement to the press, the employee, who wished to remain anonymous, described the incident as terrifying, saying, “The traveler was deranged, and at one point, I thought he was going to choke or bite me. He was seeing red.”
The employee also cited a history of mismanagement and overworking as contributing factors to the incident. “This kind of behavior is a direct result of the stress and pressure that employees are under due to the mismanagement and overworking that has been going on for too long,” he said.
The incident has sparked outrage among other airport employees, who have been vocal in their criticisms of management practices. One employee, who also wished to remain anonymous, described the incident as “the last straw” and called for immediate action to address workplace grievances.
In response to the incident, airport officials have issued a statement condemning the traveler’s behavior and promising to investigate the incident fully. “We take the safety and well-being of our employees very seriously and will not tolerate any kind of abusive behavior towards them,” the statement read.
The incident has also prompted calls for better workplace protections and support for employees who maybe dealing with stress and mental health issues. “This incident is a wake-up call for all of us,” said another airport employee. “We need to do better by our employees and ensure they have the support they need to do their jobs safely and with dignity.”
As of now, the traveler has not been charged with any crimes, but the incident is still under investigation. The employee involved in the incident has reportedly been offered counseling and other support services by airport officials.