Dickson Backs Shop Workers as Survey Reveals 90% of Retail Staff have Experienced Abusive Behaviour

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has voiced concern at the findings of a recent survey – carried out by retail trade union Usdaw – which reveals 90% of retail staff have been assaulted, threatened or abused in the last 12 months.

Speaking on the findings, Mr Dickson said: “The initial findings of the Usdaw report are extremely worrying. Not least because there seems to be societal normalisation of verbal abuse, and even physical assaults on staff, but because these incidents are not being reported”.

Preliminary results from the Usdaw survey, released as part of their Freedom from Fear summer campaign, and involving nearly 2,000 retail staff, revealed that in the last twelve months: 92% surveyed had experienced verbal abuse; 70% had been threatened by a customer; and 14% had been physically assaulted. One in five victims have never reported an incident to their employer, including 5% who had been assaulted.

Mr Dickson commented: “When you think of the sacrifices these individuals have made, and the risks that they have taken during the pandemic, it is so distressing to think that customers continue to show such hostility and aggression towards such vital workers.

“Abusive behaviour towards retail staff is not a new phenomenon, but with floor staff now being expected to enforce Covid rules for the protection of the community, it is clear that the problem is escalating”.

In many cases, the aggressive behaviour shop workers have encountered is due to store requirements regarding social distancing and facemasks. However, confronting shoplifters is another significant area emerging from the report which often prompts abuse from customers.

Usdaw’s UK-wide campaign coincides with a new protection of workers law coming into force in Scotland. However, similar legislation has not been extended to Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK.

Mr Dickson concluded: “What I would say to shop workers, if that this type of behaviour is unacceptable, and simply not something you should have to put up with. If you experience any form of aggression or violence in the course of your workday, please report it to your manager so that further steps can be taken to safeguard you and your colleagues”.