RETAIL trade union Usdaw has launched shocking statistics from its annual survey during this year’s Respect Week, which runs from 10-16 November. Usdaw members are raising awareness of the union’s year-round ‘Freedom from Fear’ Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of ‘respect for retail workers’.
Interim results from over 3,000 retail staff responses show that in the last twelve months (change from last year):
· 71% (-6) have experienced verbal abuse.
· 48% (-5) were threatened by a customer.
· 9% (-1) were assaulted.
East of England voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments East of England retail workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
Bedfordshire: “Unhappy customers, intoxicated customers, banned customers.” – “Got threatened with a crowbar.” – “Swearing, dirty looks. Been told ‘they will get me’, ‘I’m fking stupid’, ‘Go fk myself’.”
Cambridgeshire: “I was pushed into the bananas and was verbally abused.” – “Told I’m useless because we never have any salad.” – “Angry words due to frustrations.” – “Waited for me outside with a group of friends in a car. Security got involved.”
Essex: “Customer was not happy because they broke a product and shouted that it was my fault.” – “Homophobic and physical.” – “Pushed out of the way by a group of customers after reduced items.” – “Poked, grabbed, shouted at and called names.”
Hertfordshire: “Refused under-25 customer who not 25. Mother came on phone and called me a c**t.” – “When refusing tobacco sales for no ID, they sometimes threaten that they will do something to me when I leave work.”
Norfolk: “Rammed by a trolley, had shopping thrown at me, been yelled and sworn at.” – “Customer wanted to complain, I was called, they didn’t like I was a young female.” – “Sworn at for being away when picking a customer order.”
Suffolk: “Got called a b*tch.” – “People pushing their trollies in front of us, been shouted at, knocked by a car.” – “Was robbed during opening times.” – “Angry customers that are unhappy with a problem I’m helping to solve.”
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Retail workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from East of England retail workers make very difficult reading. This year’s annual survey interim results show a welcome, but slight, downturn in the level of incidents retail workers are experiencing while doing their jobs. However, it remains shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.
“So we welcome Labour’s Crime and Policing Bill. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with Criminal Behaviour Orders. The Chancellor has announced funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting, and the Government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will continue a downward trend in incidents.
“This week, Usdaw activists will be campaigning in their workplaces and communities, calling on the shopping public to ‘respect shop workers’ and ‘keep your cool’, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when the number of incidents increases as shops get busy and customers become frustrated. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”
