Startling footage has been unveiled, revealing the violence retail employees face from customers across the nation daily.
The clips depict retail staff being punched, kicked, assaulted, and even threatened with knives while performing their duties.
Woolworths has shared these videos, aiming to spur authorities into action as violence rates escalate.
“One of my stores was robbed, with five individuals storming in search of cash,” remarked Lincoln Wymer from Master Grocers Australia.
“This situation is unacceptable. Our staff are afraid to come to work,” he added.
Last year, the National Retailers Association documented over 800,000 such incidents.
“We’ve seen an almost doubling of violent incidents over the past three years,” Gerard Dwyer, the national secretary of SDA Union said.
Although, unions say there’s been some positive changes.
NSW, South Australia and Western Australia, have all increased penalties.
But major retailers are calling on the government to go one step further and introduce laws preventing known offenders from re-entering a store.
“Workplace protection orders have been shown to be effective in the ACT, we’ve seen a dramatic drop in repeat offenders,” Dwyer said.
“Facial recognition can be a part of this solution.”
The suggestion comes as Woolworths reveals the number of staff taking up the option of wearing body worn cameras is rapidly rising.
NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, feels for the workers, especially the younger ones.
“For teenagers, this is their first job working in retail,” she said.
“To be abused, to be stalked, intimidated, is absolutely disgraceful.”
Retailers are hoping that change will come sooner rather than later.
