RETAIL workers in Northern Ireland have catalogued instances of abuse, assault and sexual harassment amid renewed calls for increased legal protection.
The disclosures emerged from a UK-wide survey carried out among 2,000 retail staff by shop worker’s union Usdaw.
It found 92 per cent of respondents had experienced some form of verbal abuse, while 70 per cent were threatened by a customer.
Some 14 per cent disclosed that they had been the victim of an assault.
It comes as new legal protections for shopworkers come into force in Scotland.
Usdaw said similar legal protections must follow in Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
The responses to the survey from Northern Ireland workers disclosed instances of staff being physically slapped, spat at and having groceries thrown at them.
Some reported abuse over the wearing of facemasks and waiting times, while others said they had been sexually harassed by customers.
Staff also faced torrents of abuse over the enforcement of the ‘Think 25’ policy for refusing to sell alcohol.
Others recounted cases of being screamed at, having a basket thrown at them, while another said a customer threatened to wait outside the store when they finished work over a refund.
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from Northern Irish shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive.
“Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by shopworkers and demonstrate the need for a ‘protection of shopworkers’ law.
“This is a hugely important issue for our members. They are deeply concerned that the current high levels of abuse will become the norm, unless the Government takes urgent and meaningful action.”
