A new annual survey from Usdaw has revealed that over 20% of retail staff are not reporting assault or acts of violence due to lacking confidence that it would make a difference.
The retail trade union published the shocking statistics at the beginning of this year’s Respect for Shopworkers Week, which features responses from over 4,600 supermarket workers across the UK.
Usdaw’s findings show that 5% of colleagues have been assaulted while on shift over the last year, and 20% of those who had been assaulted did not report the incident.
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With rising crime rates amid the cost-of-living crisis and grocery price inflation hitting a record 14.7%, approximately 45% of staff surveyed said they were not confident that reporting abuse, threats and violence would make a difference.
The annual Respect for Shopworkers Week runs from 14-20 November this year, with Usdaw members raising awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom from Fear Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of ‘respect for shopworkers’.
Additionally, the report also found that 71% of staff have experienced verbal abuse, and 48% were threatened by a customer.
This week, Usdaw activists will be campaigning in their workplaces and communities calling on the public to ‘respect shopworkers’ 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.
“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,” Usdaw general secretary, Paddy Lillis said.
He added: “While a number of the triggers for abuse have been removed, such as face masks and social distancing; the level of issues faced by retail workers is still higher than before the pandemic.
“Our message to shopworkers is clear, ‘report it to sort it’. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”
“Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and too many shopworkers suffer all too often. We still need better co-ordination to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer and give staff the support and confidence they need. Most of all, we ask the public to support our campaign by respecting shopworkers.”
