{"id":9230,"date":"2022-12-21T17:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/?post_type=news&p=9230"},"modified":"2022-12-21T17:50:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T16:50:48","slug":"give-retail-workers-the-gift-of-kindness-this-festive-season","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/give-retail-workers-the-gift-of-kindness-this-festive-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Give retail workers the gift of kindness this festive season"},"content":{"rendered":"
UNI Global Union stands with affiliates in commerce who are calling for respect for retail workers who are under a massive workload and at more risk of abuse, violence and harassment at work during the holiday season.<\/p>\r\n
This trend applies to both food and non-food retailers as people splash out on meals for family gatherings and on non-food items, including clothing, as well as gifts.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cRetail workers are here to help you find the perfect gift for your family, not to function as your personal punching bag. The holidays are stressful for everyone, but there\u2019s no excuse to treat retail workers with anything but the upmost dignity and respect,\u201d<\/em> says UNI\u2019s U.S. affiliate, RWDSU.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n SDA Union of Australia, \u00a0is calling on retailers to put SDA\u2019s \u201cFive point safety plan\u201d in place to keep retail workers safe from abusive customers:<\/p>\r\n 1) Adequate staffing:<\/strong> Having enough staff on to serve customers to help to prevent abusive customer behaviour.<\/p>\r\n 2) Banning bad customers:<\/strong> Ensuring employers can and do ban customers who are repeatedly abusive or are violent.<\/p>\r\n 3) Increased security: <\/strong>More security presence to deter and manage abusive and violent customer behaviour and better protect store workers.<\/p>\r\n 4) Better training: <\/strong>Improved training on handling abusive and violent customers and the policies to escalate, report and manage incidents.<\/p>\r\n 5) Clear zero tolerance signage in stores: <\/strong>Visual reminders in stores calling on customers to treat staff with respect.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n \u201cBe kind to hard-pressed retail workers this Christmas,\u201d<\/em> said Gerry Light, the General Secretary of Mandate union in Ireland. \u201cMandate is calling on employers to generate greater customer awareness around this critically-important matter and in this regard our members would welcome in-store point-of-sale signage that sends out this clear message.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n