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.
West Midlands voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments West Midlands retail workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
Birmingham: “Regular shoplifter doesn’t care and pushes past swearing at us.” – “Abused when refusing Red Bull sale because of no ID.” – “Customer shouting and tried to hit me.” – “Customer spat on me and grabbed my shirt.”
Coventry & Warwickshire: “Verbal abuse due to lack of staff.” – “Customer has made fun of my appearance.” – “Customer threatened to throw brick through window.” – “A lady reached over the counter and grabbed me by the hair.”
Herefordshire: “Abused because the bread slicer in bakery was broken.” – “Checkout was closed so customer threw basket of shopping at me.” – “Physically assaulted by two men during a theft.”
Shropshire: “A customer spat in my face.” – “Mouthful of verbal, with bad language, mainly on self-scan when busy and can’t get to them straight away.” – “Being called an idiot.” – “Shouting in my face.”
Staffordshire: “Verbal abuse, sexual harassment, threats from customers and shoplifters.” – “Been threatened to wait for me outside of work when my shift finished.” – “Punched repeatedly by shoplifter, went to court, he was fined.”
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Retail workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from West Midlands 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.”
