Some retail workers are being asked to wear bodycams, following high numbers of incidents in which workers have been spat on or coughed at during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) found that according to 76% of respondents, abuse has been worse than normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, 85% of shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse, 57% were threatened by a customer, and 9% were assaulted.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says:

“Yet another Usdaw survey shows that some people have responded to this appalling pandemic by abusing shopworkers. At a time when we should all be working together to get through this national crisis, it is a disgrace that staff working to keep food on the shelves are being abused.

“Action to protect shopworkers is needed and that is why we have launched a petition, which now has over 70,000 signatures. We were deeply disappointed by the government’s response to the petition, offering little more than sympathy, so we continue to campaign for the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a parliamentary debate.

“This is a hugely important issue for our members. Shopworkers are saying loud and clear that enough is enough, abuse should never be just a part of the job. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”

Some of the comments from shopworkers responding to this year’s annual survey included:

• “I asked a customer to join the back of a queue, got verbal abuse. She then returned to the store with a knife and said she was going cut me up.”
• “I was physically pushed, shoved, trolley rammed during panic buying.”
• “Customers trying to belittle and humiliate you. Undermining what you are saying about the rules.”
• “Being screamed at when telling customers we don’t have an item in stock.”
• “I had members of the public cough on me as I was stacking shelves."
• “People pulling your mask off for being a sheep.”
• “My car was keyed by a customer who was barred from the shop.”
• “Since the pandemic I've had abuse nearly every day, even coughed on twice.”

The Co-op supermarket has invested £70m in security measures for staff across the UK, including body-worn cameras. A spokesperson said violence and abuse had almost become normalised and were at unprecedented levels.

The behaviour "impacts the mental and physical welfare of frontline shop workers", they said.
A private member's bill aiming to bring in tougher penalties for those who assault retail workers is due to get its second hearing in Parliament in January 2021.