Retail trade union Usdaw is urging customers to respect shopworkers after it released new statistics showing that 79% reported abuse that was worse than last year.
Scottish shopworkers are speaking out about their own experiences ahead of a new protection laws coming into force in August.
The final results of Usdaw’s 2020 survey of 2,729 shopworkers across the UK found that 88% experienced verbal abuse, 60% were threatened by a customer and 9% were assaulted.
Some of the comments Scottish shopworkers shared when responding to the survey included one in Glasgow saying comments vary from "stupid bitch, jobsworth, to being told to f*** off or shut up”.
Another staff member in Lothian said that "people get stroppy about wearing face coverings”, while another in Fife said: “Customers take their frustrations out on the staff, being verbally abusive for no reason and treating us like dirt.”
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Scottish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive.
"It has been a terrible year for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and one in ten assaulted.
“We are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be part of the job - at a time when we should all be working together to get through this crisis, it is a disgrace that staff working to keep food on the shelves and the shop safe for customers are being abused."
Usdaw welcomed the legislation to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse, passed by the Scottish Parliament in January.
“Crucial to the new law having the desired impact is that the public understands that assaulting and abusing shopworkers is totally unacceptable," added Lillis. "So we are working with Crimestoppers Scotland, the Scottish Government, police and retailers to promote that message.”
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