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We don’t go to work to be attacked
Usdaw’s research shows record levels of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers – and a majority do not feel reporting it makes any difference. Much more needs to be done, writes PADDY LILLIS
A shopworker on a till

IT’S disturbing that the record levels of violence and abuse that shopworkers experienced in the first year of the pandemic increased even further in the second year.

Ninety per cent of the nearly 3,500 retail workers who responded to our annual survey reported abuse in the last year, up from 88 per cent; 64 per cent were threatened, up from 60 per cent, and most disturbing of all 12 per cent were assaulted, up from 9 per cent.

Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and it is truly horrific that shopworkers are having to face it on a daily basis.

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