Northern Irish shopworkers have revealed the extent of the violence, threats and abuse they face while trying to do their jobs.
Retail trade union Usdaw has published statistics from a survey of thousands of shopworkers which show that seven in ten retail staff have suffered abuse from customers in the past year.
Shopworkers have said they have been assaulted, sexually assaulted, threatened and verbally abused while doing their jobs, with these incidents increasing following the pandemic.
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In 2022, 71% of shopworkers said they had received abuse in work, 48% said they were threatened and 5% said they had been assaulted.
However in the year prior, nearly 90% of workers said they received abuse, 63% were threatened and 12% said they had been assaulted.
Prior to the pandemic in 2019, 67% of workers said they had received abuse in work, 42% said they were threatened and 5% assaulted.
Responding to the Usdaw survey, shop workers revealed some of the abuse they have faced saying:
- “I asked a customer for ID and he spat on me and told me to f*** off - another incident in which i asked for ID and a customer told me i should die.”
- “Sexual assault, grab by customer tried to kiss and getting in personal space.”
- “Customer threw a bar of chocolate in my face, another was verbally abusive to me.”
- “Teenager shouting abuse at me and other staff at tills. Said he would be back.”
- “Usual abuse is because of price changes, lack of stock or not enough staff on the floor.”
- “Customer swearing at me as they didn't like my answer to their questions ‘you're a f***ing idiot’.”
Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said that he is very concerned that the levels of abuse aimed towards staff are still higher than they were before the Covid pandemic in 2019.
He said: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Northern Irish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive. Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by shopworkers.
“It is shocking that over 7 in 10 of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. While some triggers have been removed, such as face masks and social distancing; the levels of abuse remain higher than before the pandemic.
“Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job. Worryingly 1 in 5 who suffered a physical assault did not report the incident and nearly half of shopworkers are not confident that reporting these issues will make any difference. Our message shopworkers is clear, ‘report it to sort it’.
“Having secured new protection of workers laws in Holyrood and Westminster, there is still much more to do. The Government must provide the co-ordination needed to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer places for our members to work.”
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