Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) is calling on consumers to respect workers in retail, dining, and warehousing as Australia enters the busy Christmas period.
SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said that even though Christmas is stressful, it's no excuse for abusing retail and dining staff.
“Everyone deserves to be treated with respect," Dwyer said. "The experience of abuse only leaves workers feeling intimidated and cornered.
“We’ve also found young workers, women and workers from diverse linguistic backgrounds can be disproportionately singled out for mistreatment."
According to research conducted by the National Retail Association in 2020, 85% of retail workers reported being abused while working on the job.
NRA Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll echoed the SDA’s comments, stating that the retail sector is the largest employer of young people in Australia and has reported a rise in cases of customer abuse over the last two years.
“Data reveals that at least 1.5 million retail workers are at risk in vulnerable work environments,” Carroll said. “While it might be easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, that is no reason for consumers to ever take their frustrations out on workers, many of whom are working long shifts at full capacity.
“It has been hard enough for retailers to hold on to their workers, and increased risk of emotional and physical harm will only make the problem worse.”
Recent reports have shown that Christmas in Australia this year is met with staff shortages across many industries, including retail.
In an interest rate update last month, RBA governer Philip Lowe said the labour market remains “very tight”, with many firms finding it difficult to hire workers.
“The unemployment rate was steady at 3.5 per cent in September, around the lowest rate in almost 50 years,” Lowe said.
"Job vacancies and job ads are both at very high levels, although employment growth has slowed over recent months as spare capacity in the labour market has been absorbed.
"The central forecast is for the unemployment rate to remain around its current level over the months ahead, but to increase gradually to a little above 4 per cent in 2024 as economic growth slows."