A campaign has been launched in the north-east to cut down on the amount of physical and verbal abuse of retail workers.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) wants a specific law to be created to cover attacks against those who work in a face-to-face role with the public.
Figures collected by the group have revealed that more than two thirds of staff in shops are verbally abused in the UK every year.
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Ugly incidents can blight the festive period, with some irritable members of the public struggling to remain civil as they run out of shopping days and stores bulge with customers.
Yesterday, representatives from USDAW were at a Co-op store in Lossiemouth to highlight the “shocking” torrents of abuse some retail workers must face as the group highlighted Respect for Shop Workers Week.
Gordon McCabe, USDAW area organiser in Aberdeen, said: “Nobody should have to endure any type of abuse when they go to work. It’s not part of anyone’s job.
“Generally, it gets worse this at this time of year as we get towards the silly season at the end of November, in the run-up to Christmas.
“We want to give workers the confidence to speak out and report the abuse they experience and not accept it is just part of the job.”
Statistics gathered by USDAW have revealed that 42% of shop workers have been threatened during the last year, an increase of 38%.
During the same period, the same figures show that about 265 employees are assaulted every day in the UK, a rise of 25%.
It is estimated that a member of staff is verbally abused, threatened or physically attacked or threatened every minute.
The week of events organised by the union aims to encourage customers to “keep their cool” during the Christmas shopping period despite the stresses associated with it.
Representatives from USDAW will also be holding an event at the Co-op store in Banff on Monday.
