85% of Australian retail and fast food workers have been verbally abused at work, while 14% have been physically attacked by a customer, according to an SDA survey conducted on 6000 retail and fast food employees.
SDA National Secretary, Gerard Dwyer, said that regular abuse at work is a reality for many Aussies working in retail.
“Imagine going to work every day knowing you will probably be abused.
“That’s the reality for thousands of Australian retail and fast food workers and it’s completely unacceptable, not just at Christmas but all year round.
“Retail and fast food workers have told us they routinely have customers swearing and yelling at them, spitting in their faces or threatening them, simply for doing their jobs,” he said.
Resolution Education provides services to businesses to teach staff how to manage aggressive customers. Founder, Nathan McDonald, said that aggression is becoming increasingly common in many workplaces.
“It’s no longer just police and emergency workers who have to deal with danger – aggression is becoming an everyday reality in many more workplaces.
“From the call centre to the check-out, all sorts of workers face forms of aggression.”
McDonald said that there are easy ways for staff to reduce aggression from customers or clients.
“There are simple steps everyone can take to stay safe on the job.
““The best way to deal with physical confrontation is to avoid it in the first place.
“Learning to manage aggressive or agitated customers and clients can also help you deal with road rage incidents and other heated situations,” he said.
How do you help your staff deal with aggression in the work place? Leave your comments below.