December 14th 2024.
Recently, a series of alarming security footage has been released, shedding light on the increasing violence towards fast food and retail workers. It's a disturbing trend that has been on the rise, even at major supermarkets. As the busy Christmas and Boxing Day shopping period approaches, the NSW State Government has stepped in to address this issue.
One of the videos captured a person violently fly-kicking a worker, followed by repeated punches and kicks. In another incident, a young customer can be seen throwing a metal scooter at a staff member's head. Shockingly, there are also multiple videos showing female workers being physically assaulted. There was even a case where a customer pulled out a knife after being asked to leave the store.
The union representing workers in the retail, fast food, and warehouse industries has expressed their concern, stating that these types of abuse have become all too common, especially during the holiday season. Bernie Smith, the SDA secretary, condemned the behavior, stating that there is never an excuse for such violent acts. He also expressed his shock and concern, saying, "It's just off the scale."
According to a survey of 4600 workers in the retail and fast food industries, 3496 workers reported experiencing regular verbal abuse, while 800 people experienced physical abuse. Smith pointed out that while there may be reasons such as the high cost of living or long lines, there is no excuse for taking out one's frustrations on retail workers who are simply trying to do their job. He also suggested that having more staff on duty could help alleviate some of these issues.
In response to the growing problem, the State Government has implemented stricter penalties for those who assault retail workers. Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis stated, "We take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone who is aggressive or assaults retail workers." The new penalties could result in up to 4 years in prison for those who assault, intimidate, or throw objects at retail workers. If the assault results in serious injury, the maximum penalty could be 11 years in prison.
Bernie Smith revealed that so far, there have been 100 people charged, 44 of whom have been convicted, and 13 are currently spending Christmas behind bars for assaulting or abusing retail workers. In an effort to raise awareness about this issue, retailers such as Woolworths will be displaying anti-violence posters in their stores starting next week.
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