Call for more protection for shop workers in York
8 in 10 shop workers say abuse has worsened during the pandemic, according to the Usdaw union.
The Usdaw union is calling on the Government to provide legislation to protect shop workers, after a reported rise in abuse.
The final results of Usdaw’s 2020 survey of 2,729 shopworkers across the UK found that:
88% experienced verbal abuse,
60% were threatened by a customer,
9% were assaulted.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by shop workers and demonstrate the need for a ‘protection of shop workers’ law.
"It has been a terrible year for our members, with almost 90% of shopworkers suffering abuse, two-thirds threatened and nearly one in ten assaulted. We are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be part of the job".
Tracy is a shop worker in York and told Greatest Hits Radio that things have been better recently, but more needs to be done: "Over the first part of the pandemic the abuse did rise significantly. It's slightly declined over the last couple of months with Christmas out of the way, but in the run up to Easter people are kind of forgetting that there is a pandemic.
"You're not getting the verbal abuse anymore, but it's almost like you're invisible. Some customers are still reaching over you to get that product and not wanting to be two metres apart from each other. They're coming to shop like it's a normal day.
"People got very angry at the beginning of the pandemic, especially when there were shortages and they didn't want to queue. It got to the stage when we had nothing on the shelves and people were literally fighting with each other.
"The frustrations have gone now to people having to queue. Customers are getting more annoyed that they're having to queue to get served, and they're taking their frustrations out on staff - we're not there for abuse from customers; it's not part of the job".
Tracy adds that new legislation would be welcome: "Treat the person who you're speaking to as a family member, or how you want to be spoken to. We're there day in, day out to help the shopping experience. There's only so much we can take, and having legislation would give everyone backing.
"You wouldn't tolerate speaking to a police officer that badly, so why should we tolerate being spoken to like that?"