VIOLENCE AT WORK - 28.09.2020

Coronavirus fuels rise in violence

According to a union which represents retail staff, measures introduced because of coronavirus have fuelled a 100% rise in the number of assaults against its workers. What’s the story?

Unacceptable behaviour

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) which represents around 450,000 of the UK’s 2.7 million retail workers, claims that assaults, threats and abuse have occurred at an average rate of one incident per week per member since the coronavirus pandemic began. In 2019 violent incidents ran at an average rate of one per fortnight, and even then were considered unacceptably high.

The increase began in late February 2020 when panic buying started and continued into March and beyond when new social distancing measures were introduced. Usdaw and the British Retail Consortium are petitioning the government to make it a specific offence to abuse, threaten or assault a retail worker.

A private member’s bill the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2019 was due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons on 25 September 2020.

Incited by rules

Many major chains have declined an invitation to enforce the wearing of face coverings. Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op have all decided that putting up signs is as far as they’re prepared to go. Speaking to Personnel Today, Jo Whitfield, chief executive of Co-op Food, said of the threat to staff: “On a daily basis they face abuse, threatening behaviour and even physical assault. Our own figures show that during the coronavirus crisis such instances have risen and enforcing the wearing of face masks could be another flashpoint.”

Tip. You have a legal duty to protect staff from harm when at work, but you do not have a duty to enforce the wearing of face coverings on your premises.

Tip. It’s safest to follow the lead of these major supermarkets and use persuasion and influence to encourage compliance, but not attempt enforcement.

Weighing up the risk

Your risk assessment should identify risks of violence, e.g. to those working alone, cash handling, with access to prescription medicines or who are the interface with the public.

Tip. Identify the factors which may have increased the risk of violence as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the precautions you need to implement (see The next step ).

Tip. Do not leave your staff to bear the brunt of circumstances which are likely to cause extra tension amongst your customers or service users. Determine if additional risk control measures are needed to deter violence, for example improved security, the wearing of bodycams, a re-designed reception space, panic alarms or better information for customers.

Note. Timely and honest communications cost nothing and are the best way of encouraging patience and empathy in customers.

Tip. Put in place effective means for staff to report any incidence of verbal or physical abuse. Investigate all such reports and use the information to enhance the safety of staff.

For a risk assessment - violence against staff, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 02.

Risk assessments should identify which staff are at risk of violence and when. Have a good recording system so you can identify trends as they emerge. According to some retail managers body cameras have helped to defuse many situations.

© Indicator - FL Memo Ltd

Tel.: (01233) 653500 • Fax: (01233) 647100

subscriptions@indicator-flm.co.ukwww.indicator-flm.co.uk

Calgarth House, 39-41 Bank Street, Ashford, Kent TN23 1DQ

VAT GB 726 598 394 • Registered in England • Company Registration No. 3599719