Almost half (47%) of retail staff fear for their safety, while 39% are considering leaving their jobs or the industry altogether due to the rise in violent and abusive incidents, a survey conducted by the Retail Trust has found.

The study, which surveyed 1,200 workers, uncovered alarming statistics about the state of safety and job satisfaction in the UK retail industry. 

It found that one in three retail workers face weekly abuse from shoppers, with a staggering 80% of shop workers and 90% of store managers experiencing abusive incidents at work.

Almost all (98%) have been verbally abused, 33% threatened with violence, 14% physically assaulted and 10% spat on. 

Nearly half (48%) of the respondents reported that they don’t receive enough support from their employers to deal with the current levels of violence, threats, and abuse. Among those who felt unsupported, the number of people considering quitting rose to 56%, while 73% said they feel unsafe as a result. 

The Retail Trust’s findings paint a grim picture of the retail work environment. Some 55% of workers said the situation has worsened in the last two years, as 63% now feel stressed and anxious about going to work.

Almost two third (64%) of abusive incidents were triggered by confronting shoplifters and 57% of workers had witnessed products being stolen or damaged. 

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In response to these findings, the Retail Trust is offering free skills training sessions in November to help shop staff manage challenging in-store situations, particularly during the busy festive shopping period.

The charity’s respect retail campaign, backed by major retailers such as H&M, BP, Frasers Group and Holland & Barrett, aims to support businesses in implementing new measures to help staff and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. 

“The incidents we hear about every day are both horrifying and heartbreaking,” Chris Brook-Carter, the Retail Trust’s chief executive, “People tell us they have been spat on, had products smashed up in front of them and been filmed on their phones by abusive shoppers who then threaten to post the footage on social media.”

“Despite the huge investment by retailers to protect their colleagues and customers, violence and abuse against staff has continued to rise, reaching over 1,300 incidents a day,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium.