The union representing retail, fast food and warehouse workers is calling on shoppers to keep their cool when they hit the shops over December and January.
Last week the SDA national branch launched an online survey asking all retail and fast food employees who have been subjected to customer abuse to share their experiences with the union.
SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said that thousands of retail and fast food workers had been “regularly subjected to customer abuse and violence while they are at work”.
“It’s not acceptable,” he said.
“Customer violence and abuse not just a workplace issue but a health and safety issue, feeling stressed has irrefutable physiological impacts – so we’re asking people to keep their cool.”
Over the past two years, during the union’s annual national safety week, the SDA has spoken with over 10,000 retail and fast food workers and almost half of these workers said that they had experienced customer violence or abuse in the workplace.
“This festive season the SDA are sending a clear message to all shoppers to Respect Retail Workers and Respect Fast Food Workers,” Dwyer said.
“Customers need to be reminded that shops are also workplaces, all retail workers and fast food workers should feel safe at work, and protected from any form of violence or abuse perpetrated by customers.
“We’re asking the public to remember what the festive season is all about – good will and generosity, which should be extended to customer service staff as well.
“There’s no excuse for abuse.”
The SDA’s ‘Customer Violence and Abuse in Retail and Fast Food’ survey is open until the end of Jan 2017.