EMPLOYERS have joined trade union calls to be kind to retail and hospitality workers this Christmas.

The plea comes after a recent survey conducted by shopworkers’ union Usdaw showed that as many as 65 per cent of retail workers had faced verbal abuse and a staggering 42 per cent had been threatened by a customer over the last year.

The union’s calls for customers to respect workers this Christmas have now been echoed by employers organisations amid fears that stressed shoppers could vent their frustrations on hard-pressed staff.

Scottish Retail Consortium director David Lonsdale said: “While tensions can run high, any mistreatment of our colleagues will not be tolerated.

“Confrontations, be it verbal abuse or physical assault, can take a huge toll on victims, their families and their colleagues.

“When everyone shows a little Christmas kindness and courtesy, everyone will be better off.”

UKHospitality Scotland spokesman Leon Thompson said: “Teams across hospitality work incredibly hard over the busy festive period to make sure everyone can enjoy the brilliant experiences that Scotland is known for.

“They deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.”