Usdaw asks employers to reduce stress in the workplace

On National Stress Awareness Day, Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, is calling for retail employers to make sure they have the procedures in place to protect their staff from violence in the workplace.

The union, which is running a Freedom From Fear Campaign, is pointing retailers towards the new HSE toolkit. With the Director General of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) raising concerns about a possible increase in shop theft, Usdaw argues that the time is right for retail employers to check their procedures against the HSE toolkit.

The latest BRC retail crime survey reports a welcome fall in violence and abuse against shopworkers in 2007 – down 63% from the previous year. Despite some rises, the overall trend for the last five years has been downward. However, this means that there were still over 8,000 physical assaults and around 30,000 incidents of threats and verbal abuse last year.

The BRC have pointed to Government figures that suggest that violent crimes and shop theft may increase as a result of the current economic downturn. The BRC figures show that shoplifting is the main cause of physical assaults against staff and is a major factor in cases of verbal abuse and intimidation.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said:

“Usdaw welcomes the significant reduction in overall levels of violence and abuse against shopworkers over the last five years. We are grateful for the support that the Government and the major retailers have given to our Freedom From Fear Campaign.

“However, there can be no room for complacency. Even if the fears of an upturn in crime are not fulfilled, the current levels of abuse are clearly unacceptable.

“We are calling on all retail employers to check their staff protection procedures against the HSE toolkit, because we know it works. The toolkit was developed in close consultation with Usdaw and retail employers. It does not make impossible demands but lists tried and tested methods that have led to the reduction in levels of violence so far.

“We need to make sure that all retail employers are meeting their legal obligation to protect their staff from this very real problem.”

Notes to Editors:

• Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign aims to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers. The campaign’s theme for 2008 is ‘Keep your Cool at Christmas’. Respect for Shopworkers Week is running from 3-7 November.
• The HSE’s toolkit outlines ways in which employers can reduce the risk of violence against shopworkers. These include detailed recommendations on:
  • Work environment (eg premises design and layout)
  • Working practices
  • Training
  • Legal options
  • Partnership working and special schemes

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 369,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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