Retail and fast food fight against customer abuse

A Retail and Fast Food Industry Statement on witnessed increases in abusive and violent customer behaviour has been released.

This comes from the National Retail Association (NRA), along with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA), Australian Retail Association (ARA) and other undersigned organisations.

As reported by the SDA, in the last year, more than 85 per cent of retail staff have experienced verbal abuse from a customer, 15 per cent have experienced physical customer violence, and 11 per cent sexual harassment or abuse.

Through its Safe Retail Precincts and SafeCity Network programs, the NRA says it has also witnessed increased reports of abusive and aggressive behaviour towards retailers.

The statement

The Industry Statement outlines the collective’s commitment to forging a retail and fast food industry free from abuse and violence.

In doing this, they say it will help create vibrant, healthy and safe workplaces for workers and customers across Australia now, and into the future.

Three key commitments are outlined:

1. We support the eradication of customer disrespect, abuse and violence from our workplaces.
2. We commit to positively and publicly promoting and supporting a culture of respect and dignity for retail and fast food workers in and around workplaces.
3. We encourage and facilitate the reporting of all forms of customer perpetrated abuse and violence towards workers, including sexual harassment and assault.

View the full statement here.