While not all shopworkers suffer to this extent, some experience much higher levels of abuse, threats and violence. Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Survey shows that during 2018:
- 59% of West Midlands shopworkers experienced verbal abuse,
- 38% were threatened by a customer,
- with 29 assaulted every day (which is above the national average).
The Government has opened a ‘call for evidence’ on this growing issue, following pressure from Usdaw, employers like the Co-op and retailers’ representative organisations like the Association of Convenience Stores, British Retail Consortium and National Federation of Retail Newsagents. The Government is seeking the views of organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to their understanding of the problem of violence and abuse toward shop staff in England and Wales. This consultation closes at 11pm on 28 June 2019 and submissions can be made online at:
www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/PVAUE/
Usdaw is running their own survey, which will feed into the Home Office ‘call for evidence’ and can be completed at:
www.usdaw.org.uk/respectsurvey
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers are amongst the great scourges of our society. The statistics are shocking and show that urgent action is required. On average a West Midlands shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault around once every 18 days. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.
“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff and customers alike.
“So there needs to be action to help protect staff. We want the Government to provide stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, CPS, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.
“Usdaw welcomes the Government opening a ‘call for evidence’ and we encourage everyone concerned with this issue to make their voices heard by contributing to the Home Office online consultation or visiting the Usdaw website to complete our survey, which we will submit to the Government.
“Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”
Jack Dromey MP (Labour, Birmingham Erdington) says: “No one goes to work to be abused. The figures highlighted in Usdaw’s report are utterly shocking, we need to do everything we can to make shopworkers working environment a safe place and to stop this scourge within our society.
“We need to work hard to ensure that shopworkers feel safe at work and to reduce the atrocious amount of abuse suffered. It's vital we tell the Government more work needs to be done, that's why it is so important to send in evidence in the Governments "call to arms" consultation so the voices of shop workers are heard and acted on by the Government.”
Voices from the West Midlands frontline: As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from the West Midlands:
Coventry: “Hit with a walking stick by an old man because I was talking to another customer and not dealing with his problems immediately.”
Stoke-on-Trent: “I was on the customer service desk and a man tried to lunge over the desk at me and grabbed my hand and scratched me before security arrived.”
Rugby: “Customer was unhappy about the number of tills that weren't open and threw her basket of shopping at me.”
Cannock: “Challenging drug addicts/shoplifters/breaking up fights.”
Birmingham: “Many times aggressive and threatening customers have talked ( shouted more like) over very unimportant issues such as queues or pricing, it’s as though they feel they have the right!”
Hereford: “Known thief gave racial abuse, when being watched for stealing.”
Solihull: “Customer was refused a refund, got stroppy, came after me into the fitting room shouting threats, backed me into a corner literally.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
West Midlands results of Usdaw’s 2018 survey, based on 391 responses, show that in 2018: 59.3% were verbally abused, 38.3% were threatened, 12% of shopworkers had been assaulted during their career, with 3.8% assaulted during 2018 (above the national average).
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion