Depending on the particular facts and on the forum, the monetary awards compensate the victim for: past and future wage loss; general damages (compensation for pain and suffering); specific losses, such as intentional infliction of mental suffering or assault; aggravated damages (in the context of employment law,
often relating to the manner in which the employer dismissed the employee); and punitive damages (a monetary award intended to punish the
wrong -
doer rather than to compensate the victim).