New guidance issued for tackling violence against shop staff

Violence and abuse against shop staff in the UK is a growing problem, according to recent figures published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Their latest survey found that at least 35,000 staff had suffered from physical or verbal attacks in the 2010/11 period.

The country's retail sector, which employs nearly three million people, is identified as a vital contributor to the economy and to the regeneration of deprived areas.

For every 1,000 employees there were 26 incidents, an increase of 83 per cent on 2010.  This rise was chiefly in verbal abuse but retail robberies also rose by 20 per cent on the previous year.

Violence and abuse towards retail employees has a knock-on effect on wellbeing, employee churn and productivity. According to the BRC, in areas where there is a heightened fear of violence and intimidation, retailers report a greater turnover of staff and higher incidents of sickness and absence.

Unfortunately, there is a perception that abuse is 'part of the job'.

The new guidelines, 'Tackling Violence Against Staff', recommend a range of steps retailers can take to keep their staff safe.

These include having clear policies against violence and abuse, robust store-based risk assessments, appropriate store layout, security and preventative measures, good staff training and reporting procedures and providing support for staff after incidents.

The BRC said although there are a number of guidelines in its document, they are often simple and cost little to implement.

For the full story or to download a copy of the BRC's 'Tackling Violence Against Staff' click here.

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