As incidents of attacks on retail workers escalate, The Retail Trust has initiated the ‘Respect Retail’ campaign, advocating for the comprehensive recording of abusive incidents to ensure affected staff receive crucial support.
The ‘Respect Retail’ campaign addresses the concerning surge in retail crime, revealing that a staggering 90% of retail workers have faced abuse, encompassing verbal aggression (84%), threats of violence (33%), physical assaults (14%), and spitting incidents (10%). Shockingly, nearly half (47%) of retail staff feel unsafe at work, yet a quarter choose not to report abuse.
Over 200 retailers, including major players like H&M, John Lewis, and Tesco, are supporting the campaign. Employees from these companies are speaking out against a distressing wave of assaults and thefts, causing heightened anxiety and potential exits from the industry.
Recent research highlights that 64% of incidents stem from confronting shoplifters, while 56% attribute customer frustrations to the rising cost of living. The survey of over 1,600 retail workers calls for stricter penalties (67%) and increased police intervention (33%) against abusive customers.
The psychological impact on employees is evident, with 66% expressing heightened stress and anxiety, and 42% contemplating leaving their jobs or the retail sector. Despite 22% of shoppers feeling intimidated, a positive note emerges, with 53% willing to intervene on behalf of a retail worker witnessing abusive conduct.
Chris Brook Carter, CEO of the Retail Trust, emphasizes urgent collective action, stating, «As a country and a society, we must get better at bringing an end to this terrible behavior, ensuring that every incident is recorded and acted upon, and, above all, ensuring that our colleagues across the country get the protection and support they need.»
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, urges the government to introduce a standalone offense to send a clear message against such behavior. The campaign also calls on customers to show the respect retail workers deserve, emphasizing a collaborative effort to eradicate this growing issue of crime.