Martin Whitfield MSP is backing the retail trade union Usdaw, which launched their annual Respect Week with shocking statistics showing unacceptable levels of verbal abuse, threats and assaults against retail staff.

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.

The annual Respect Week runs from 10-16 November, 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 retail workers’.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“Retail and distribution staff are essential workers on the frontline of serving our communities and they deserve to be treated with respect. I have always supported Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear campaign and its important messages on treating retail workers with dignity and respect.

“However, while this year’s survey shows some signs of improvement compared with last year, levels of abuse and violence remain shockingly high.That is why we must continue to focus on this issue and the root causes of the abuse and threats so many staff experience in their workplace.”

Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary said:

“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.”

Voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments shop workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:

  • “The abuse is when I ask for ID for age-restricted goods – mainly energy drinks. Have been sworn at, spat on and accused of being offensive for asking them.”
  • “Have had two shoplifters threaten a visiting male manager who was headbutted by one of them. Got threatened with a crowbar.”
  • “Customer squared up to me and kicked out at me. Items of shopping thrown. Abused for refusing alcohol. Verbal abuse every day. Called a c**t.”
  • “Threats like, ‘I will see you outside’, ‘I have a knife’ and ‘you can’t stop me – I am walking out with it’. Customer threw a pack of peaches.”
  • “Customers make comments about pickers and make feel less of a person, been told to ‘f**k off’.”
  • “Customer grabbed my throat, swore at, things thrown at me. Asked a customer to scan a bag and she got angry and started cursing at me.”
  • “Man taking pictures of my bum down aisle. Verbal abuse of a sexual nature from some of the older male customers.”
  • “Spat at, kicked, bag thrown at me, car driven at me in car park and told ‘remember you have to leave work at some point’.”
  • “Shoplifter broke a finger. Swearing, dirty looks. Been told ‘they will get me’, ‘I’m f**king stupid’, ‘’Go f**k yourself’.”
  • “As a manager, I often have to interject when a staff member is being abused. I often encounter racial slurs.”