There’s no need for trouble in store with staff

THIS week is Respect for Shopworkers Week which, at the start of the very busy Christmas shopping period, aims to remind shoppers that retail staff are
real people who do not deserve to be abused, threatened or assaulted.

Usdaw is the union that represents shopworkers and our retail crime annual survey shows that every minute of every day another shopworker is verbally abused, threatened or physically attacked.

We are asking customers to keep their cool and show respect for shopworkers.

Usdaw is campaigning for a change in the law to provide more severe punishments for those who assault workers serving the public.

We are concerned by some of the lenient sentences given to criminals guilty of some pretty awful attacks. This would not just apply to shopworkers, but all public-facing workers, including NHS staff, transport workers, bar workers and many others.

We were disappointed that this proposal was recently rejected by the Government in the House of Commons, but we are hopeful that it will be backed by the House of Lords and the Government will be forced to think again.

Finally, a message to all your readers who work in retail. Our surveying reveals that one in six shopworkers who have been physically assaulted did not report the incident to their employer or the police.

We are shocked that so many are suffering in silence and I would urge you to report any incidents, to give us and your employer the chance to sort the problem.

Abuse and physical attacks are not part of a shopworker’s job!