Retail Worker Abuse - What's Your Story?

If there's one thing life has taught me it's to never judge a book by its cover. A recent encounter reminded me of this and of the importance of always treating people with courtesy & respect.

Photo: Jack Allsobrook

You were irritated, you were running late, you had things on your mind and just needed to get in and get out of the store as fast as you could. But the sales assistant was too slow for your liking, and you let them know it.

Not for a moment did you stop to think of how their day was going. What was going on in their life and perhaps that serving you was the last thing on their mind at that particular moment.

A recent encounter reminded me of this and that we all have a backstory, a tale to tell. Let me explain.

I moved into my new home in January, have spent a fair amount of money on it and settled back to enjoy it over the years to come. That was until I stumbled across a simply out of this world old manor house being converted into houses and apartments - right in the heart of the wonderful Sussex countryside. I needed to know more.

Long story short, I contacted the agents and next thing I know I am viewing whilst simultaneously arranging for a valuation on my current property.

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ll admit that I usually bracket estate agents alongside bankers, insurance sales people, politicians and used car dealers. So I’d already made my mind up when I opened the door to him.

And within five minutes things started to rapidly go downhill; him: “let me tell you a little about myself”. I’ll paraphrase the next bit, suffice to say that he walks on water, is the top earner in the company and always gets the asking price on behalf of his clients.

I couldn’t wait to show him the door. It got worse.

As we chatted he eyed my collection of guitars and that was it. Now in overdrive, there was no stopping him as he regaled me of tales of how he used to play in a band, recorded with Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac for any of you born after 1990) and, and…..well, I’d love to share if it wasn’t for the fact that by then I’d drifted off into a catatonic stupor. As far as I was concerned, he was well and truly filed under the heading Bobby Bullxxxxxxr.

Except I didn’t because he wasn’t.

One in three retail workers are now shouted at, spat on, threatened or hit every week

The Retail Trust

Because as I write, I’m listening to some of his music on Spotify and I can vouch for the fact that he can play guitar when I invited to pick up one of mine. So what’s the point of the story?

It reminded me of a sad statistic in retail. According to the British Retail Consortium, we are currently witnessing ‘appalling levels’ of violence and abuse against retail workers, with over 850 incidents reported daily.

Only last year, the Retail Trust launched a campaign to respect retail workers, reporting that one in three retail workers are now shouted at, spat on, threatened or hit every week. And that more than two thirds say verbal and physical assaults are worsening as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold. These truly are horrific statistics.

So next time you’re running late, stressed, anxious, irritated - spare a thought for that person the other side of the counter or check-out. Because maybe, they’ve just been spat at for the umpteenth time this week and perhaps they’re having a far worse day than you. Who knows, they just might have a fascinating story to tell.

Don’t let me down Jack.