ALMOST 90 per cent of retail workers suffered abuse at work last year, their union says.
An Usdaw survey of 2,729 shop workers published today found that 88 per cent experienced verbal abuse, 61 per cent were threatened by a customer and nine per cent were assaulted.
Shop workers reported that they are dealing with everything from being threatened with being stabbed after work to being grabbed by the neck and pushed against the wall.
Retail workers argued that the pandemic has brought out the worst behaviour in people, with many fielding abuse for limiting items during the lockdown and for making people queue and wear a mask.