Nine in 10 retail workers faced abuse, finds recent survey

About 89 per cent of shopkeepers in the UK have experienced verbal abuse, stated a recent survey result by retail trade union Usdaw, which also added that nearly half of shopworkers are not confident that reporting abuse will make a difference.

Retail trade union Usdaw has today launched shocking statistics from their annual survey during the annual Respect for Shopworkers Week, 15-21 November. Interim results from nearly 3,500 retail staff show that in the last twelve months, 89 per cent have experienced verbal abuse while 64 per cent were threatened by a customer.

The survey further found that 11 per cent were assaulted, 46 per cent said they were not confident that reporting abuse, threats and violence will make a difference and seven per cent of those who had been assaulted did not report the incident. 

Retail trade union Usdaw has been calling on Tory peers to back two protection of shopworkers amendments to the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Two amendments have been tabled in the House of Lords to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, by Labour shadow minister Lord Coaker and Conservative backbencher Baroness Neville-Rolfe. Usdaw is urging Peers to support the amendments, which are due to be debated, at the committee stage of the Bill, today Wednesday 17 November 2021.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says, “It is shocking that 9 in 10 of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. So it is extremely worrying that half are not confident that reporting these issues will make any difference. 

“The new protection of workers law in Scotland is welcome and we urge the UK Government to extend it to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Retail staff across the UK have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law. 

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, “Our colleagues work incredibly hard, day in, day out, to keep shelves stocked, goods delivered and our needs met. They deserve our gratitude and we all have a part to play in stamping out this scourge of violence and abuse that continues to rise across the UK. Current laws in place simply do not go far enough, so our message is clear – we need a new law to protect retail workers and we need it now.” 

Jo Whitfield, CEO Co-op Food, said: “Abuse and assaults should not be part of the job, and there is now a real opportunity for Government to provide shopworkers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with the same protection as they have in Scotland. It is not just the physical impact on colleagues, but the mental wellbeing of frontline shopworkers who face this behaviour on a daily basis – they should be able to carry out their valued role in local community life free from fear. 

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said, “Shopworkers are on the front line, serving their communities and enforcing the law – they do not deserve to come to work in fear of violence and abuse, but these incidents are far too common and often go unreported.