The charity Retail Trust, which surveyed 1,200 workers, found that 47% fear for their safety and 39% want to leave their jobs or the industry altogether due to the rise in violent and abusive incidents.
Shop staff have warned they feel unsafe and are looking to quit the retail industry, as new research reveals one in three face weekly abuse from shoppers. Nearly half (48%) said they don’t get enough support from their employer. Among those who felt unsupported, the number of people considering quitting rose to 56% while three quarters (73%) said they feel unsafe as a result.
“The incidents we hear about every day are both horrifying and heartbreaking,” said Chris Brook-Carter, the Retail Trust’s chief executive. “People tell us they have been spat on, had products smashed up in front of them and been filmed on their phones by abusive shoppers who then threaten to post the footage on social media.
“This unacceptable behaviour will only get worse unless more people are empowered to speak up, better supported to deal with their experiences and most of all, get the protection they need. I believe that retail can still be an amazing place to build a career, but we know that even just one terrible encounter can overshadow a hundred kind interactions.”
Affected workers have now been urged to take part in free skills training being offered by the Retail Trust in November. It aims to help staff across the country manage another expected rise in abusive behaviour during the busy festive shopping period. It is running free training sessions online and in London from 12 to 14 November, to arm hundreds of shop staff with new skills to manage challenging in-store situations this Christmas and deal with any difficult experiences.
Retail workers can apply to take part by visiting retailtrust.org.uk/respect. The Retail Trust also runs a wellbeing helpline on 0808 801 0808, offering counselling to shop staff in need.
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