Covid-19 a bigger flashpoint for abuse of shopworkers than shoplifting and age ID, survey finds

An online survey of 2,232 shopworkers, carried out by retail trade union Usdaw, found the main triggers for abuse during the Coronavirus pandemic were: enforcing social distancing (68%), queueing to get in store (50%), lack of stock (46%), face coverings (42%), limiting sales (41%), shoplifting (25%), and age-restricted sales (17%).

In past years similar surveys have consistently found that theft from shops and age identification have been the major flashpoints.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Yet another Usdaw survey shows that some people have responded to an appalling national pandemic, which has severely impacted everyone’s lives, by abusing shop workers. At a time when we should all be working together to get through this crisis, it is a disgrace that staff working to keep food on the shelves and the shop safe for customers are being abused.

“Action to protect shopworkers is needed and that is why we have launched a petition, which now has over 60,000 signatures. We were deeply disappointed by the government’s response to the petition, offering little more than sympathy. This is a hugely important issue for our members and their local communities, with incidents of abuse doubling during the Covid-19 crisis. Shopworkers are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job.”

The Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill, promoted by Alex Norris MP, is timetabled for its second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow (25 September).