Don’t take it out on shop workers

The run-up to Christmas is always a really busy time for retail workers, as shoppers can be stressed and things can boil over.

The timing of Christmas this year means that we anticipate especially busy stores the week before, culminating in what the retail industry has branded ‘Super Saturday’ on December 23.

I want to gently ask readers to remember that shopworkers are people too.

They will be working really hard to make your shopping experience as enjoyable as possible and deserve respect.

Talking to our members who work in retail, I know that verbal abuse cuts deep.

Many will go home after a shift upset about an unpleasant incident that took place at work that day and worried that it will happen to them again.

That is why USDAW, the shopworkers’ trade union, is asking customers to ‘Keep your Cool’, so that everyone can have a happier Christmas.

Paddy Lillis, General Secretary
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

Picture by Pixabay/Ashish_Choudhary