2 days Ago By Jessica Belzycki
After years of abuse and personal attacks, Garry Luxton is relieved to not work this long weekend. Login or signup to continue reading The Hunter local had greeted customers at a large retailer for 25 years and he said public holidays were one of the worst times. "People will buy like it's the end of the world," he said.
"Because they're so focused on what they need to do for the weekend, they snap at you, make bad comments as you help them, and if you don't have stock - they get abusive." With the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day around the corner, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) is urging customers to treat workers with respect. Mr Luxton said people were often reactive to items running low or not in stock during public holidays, and they got frustrated and stormed out of the store.
With many retailers closed on Friday and Sunday, people typically felt pressure to buy everything in the days before. Mr Luxton said there were over 50 people lined outside his work on Thursday, April 17 morning. When some were met with disappointment, the retail worker said people sometimes got personal with their verbal attacks.
"They'll say 'oh you're nothing but a fat c--t'," he said. Treatment of retail staff had only got worse after the COVID-19 lockdowns, he said. "Once restrictions were lifted people still wanted us to get things straight away.
" A 2023 SDA survey of 4600 retail workers found 87 per cent of workers had experienced verbal abuse while 12.5 per cent were physically abused. Nine per cent had been spat on in the twelve months prior.
National secretary Gerard Dwyer said holiday periods and reduced trading could lead to higher incidents of customer abuse as people rush to get their shopping done. "We understand that reduced trading hours, longer than usual wait times, the stress of hosting family get-togethers, and the high cost of living and groceries can make for a hostile shopping environment," he said. "But it's never okay for abuse in our shops or drive-thrus - retail and fast food workers deserve to be safe.
" Mr Dwyer said retail workers were essential staff who were working over the long weekend rather than relaxing. "We urge all shoppers to remember this and treat retail and fast food staff as they would like to be treated; with respect," he said. This year, Mr Luxton has decided to take the Easter break, largely due to the mad rush and intensity of customers.
"I'm 54, I want to start winding down, I don't want to be upset by people or abused by people," he said. He said many customers should remember that retail and hospitality staff were just trying to earn money to pay their bills. "Just remember that we're human," he said.
Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.
com.au Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.
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