1 in 10 retail workers report being ‘spat on’

NSW Premier Chris Minns has called on consumers to “behave respectfully” as new figures show prevalent violence and aggression against retail workers.

Since its implementation in June 2023, the Crimes Legislation Amendment has had 164 individuals charged with offences, with 64 individuals convicted of an offence and 25 individuals receiving a custodial imprisonment sentence.

These laws make it an offence to assault, throw a missile at, stalk, harass or intimidate a retail worker; assault a retail worker during the worker’s duty; and wound or cause grievous bodily harm to a retail worker.

Due to the figures, the Minns Labor government has sent out a “reminder” to consumers to behave respectfully.

Speaking on the issues affecting retail workers, Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said: “As a former retail worker myself, I want people to take a moment to remember that the people who serve you deserve respect.”

“If you do the wrong thing, if you threaten or assault a retail worker, you can and will be charged. The NSW government is taking a zero-tolerance approach. Retail workers have the right to feel and be safe when they go to work, and these strong laws will continue to protect them.”

SDA NSW secretary Bernie Smith reinforced the alarming figures showing how unsafe the workplace can be for NSW retail workers.

“Everybody deserves to feel and be safe in Australian shopping centres. Sadly, retail workers do not, with 88 per cent of workers being subjected to abuse, including physical violence, with one in 10 reporting being spat on. Enough is enough, this must change. Everyone has a right to feel safe at work,” Smith said.

“There are now serious consequences for offenders who abuse retail workers, including increased jail time. Don’t ruin our members’ day with bad behaviour in shops – don’t ruin your life with a bad decision.

“We ask customers to stop, reflect and do the right thing in shops. Be kind to retail workers, it’s the best present you can give them.”

Leadership at major Aussie retailers have echoed a similar sentiment, with Coles general manager Grant Shelton affirming the supermarket giant’s commitment to protecting its workers who may face this behaviour.

“We are deeply committed to providing a safe working environment for our team members, and we have invested heavily in advanced safety technologies and training programs.

“Our record-level investments in safety measures, such as body-worn cameras and de-escalation training, underscore our dedication to protecting our team members and customers,” Shelton said.