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:

• 70% of Scottish shopworkers experienced verbal abuse (which is the worst in the UK),
• 42% were threatened by a customer (which is above the UK average),
• with 18 assaulted every day.

Usdaw has called on the Scottish Government to back a protection of workers Bill. Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh Southern) is seeking to provide additional
protections for retail staff, including those who sell age-restricted items. His member’s bill has been through an initial consultation and overwhelmingly backed by shopworkers. It is also supported by Asda, Co-op and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. The Bill is currently in the drafting stage.
 
Usdaw is running their survey again this year, which 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 Scottish shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault nearly once a fortnight. 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.
 
“The extent of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers is shocking and requires urgent action. We hope that MSPs from all parties and the Scottish Government are listening and they will back Daniel Johnson’s much-needed Bill when it comes before Holyrood.
 
“There needs to be action from the Scottish Government to help protect staff by providing stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.
 
“Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”
 
Voices from the Scottish 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 Scotland:
 
Aberdeen: "Shoplifters refusing to stay in store until police arrive, using physical violence or throwing stolen items as weapons, threatened with syringes & knives."
 
Dundee: "One man waited outside my previous work place for an hour, hoping to fight a male colleague who had helped me."
 
Glasgow: "Customer annoyed about having to wait to be served.  Threatened to have my throat cut if I didn't hurry up."
 
Wallyford: "Known shoplifter was told to leave. Got really angry about it. He keeps coming in even though he knows he's banned."
 
Stirling: "I get the blame when things don't go right for the customer like if they think they should have got a special offer on an item and the offer has expired."
 
Perth: "Sexual harassment where an older gentleman came in and repeatedly made unwanted advances. Told my manager, and he told me to take it to security. The security manager did nothing. My colleague eventually intervened on my behalf as I felt too uncomfortable to speak up to the customer. The gentleman still comes into the shop."
 
Inverness: "Customer didn't have enough money, threw product at me and stormed off."
 
Edinburgh: "While doing a click and collect order an impatient customer called me and idiot and unqualified and also made another colleague cry."
 
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.
 
Scottish results of Usdaw’s 2018 survey, based on 924 responses, show that in 2018: 69.6% were verbally abused (which is the worst in the UK), 41.8% were threatened (which is above the UK average), 12% of shopworkers had been assaulted during their career, with 2.9% assaulted during 2018.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion