Woolworths customer outraged after getting caught up in an 'unacceptable' incident while shopping
- Replies 21
We here at the SDC believe that everyone should have the same rights and be given the same amount of respect.
That's why, when we heard about one shopper's recent experience at her local Woolworths store, we were appalled.
Perth resident Brooke Doherty, who is confined to a wheelchair, was out shopping with her husband at the Woolworths store in Butler, Western Australia when she needed to use the toilet facilities.
However, when she arrived at the disabled toilet, she was shocked to find the entrance had been completely blocked off by large boxes of stock.
The experience prompted her to write a post on Facebook, urging Woolworths and other Australian businesses to provide more disability access and inclusion education to their employees.
‘What do you see wrong with this picture?’ Brooke wrote along with a photo of the incident.
‘Where is the access and inclusion? Why should I have to hold it in until I got home? I am absolutely shocked that I should have to cut my shopping trip short just because you have blocked access to the disabled toilet.’
‘Please change this ASAP. Everyone deserves a pleasant shopping experience. How disappointing. This shouldn’t be happening.’
While the boxes were moved shortly afterwards, Brooke was left shaken by this 'completely unacceptable' incident.
'The signs were supposed to indicate access and inclusion, but it was just blocked by boxes,' she continued.
'It’s a very frustrating thing being in a wheelchair and not being able to go to many places. This just highlights the lack of education and awareness.'
It's believed the boxes were wrongly placed there after the store received a large delivery of stock from interstate, resulting in restricted space for the boxes.
However, this excuse was not enough for Brooke as she pointed out that the situation got even worse.
Her husband, Martin, returned to the Woolworths store a few hours after the incident to check if the boxes had been moved from the area – and after discovering that they had been cleared, he was met with an even more absurd sign.
Scheduled for customer use, the sign had been replaced with another that declared the public toilet was for 'staff use only', directing customers to the shopping centre’s facilities.
'WTF, Woolies?' the shopper wrote in her updated post.
Woolworths has issued an apology to the woman.
'We appreciate customers would expect that the disabled toilet would be available for use given its location in a public area of the store and this remains the case,' a Woolworths spokesperson said.
'We’ve been in touch with Brooke to say sorry and we look forward to welcoming her in-store again.'
Brooke, who works in the disability sector, expressed optimism that Woolworths will learn from the incident and educate its employees about inclusion.
She said: 'So many businesses need disability access and inclusion training and staff need to be educated on acceptable work areas spaces.'
'I need to be a voice for people in wheelchairs and have mobility issues who face this every day. It needs to be highlighted, and changes need to be made.'
This incident highlights the need for more awareness of disability access and inclusion. Not only do businesses need to educate their staff better on this issue, but it's also important that we, as consumers, keep an eye out for these and other issues when we're shopping either in-store or online.
Members, if you ever come across this sort of thing when you're out shopping, don't be afraid to raise your voice and turn it into a teaching moment. This is an important issue that the world needs to learn and act on, and we all have the power to make a difference.
What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below.
That's why, when we heard about one shopper's recent experience at her local Woolworths store, we were appalled.
Perth resident Brooke Doherty, who is confined to a wheelchair, was out shopping with her husband at the Woolworths store in Butler, Western Australia when she needed to use the toilet facilities.
However, when she arrived at the disabled toilet, she was shocked to find the entrance had been completely blocked off by large boxes of stock.
The experience prompted her to write a post on Facebook, urging Woolworths and other Australian businesses to provide more disability access and inclusion education to their employees.
The customer was upset to discover that the disabled toilet was entirely blocked with boxes. Credit: Facebook.
‘What do you see wrong with this picture?’ Brooke wrote along with a photo of the incident.
‘Where is the access and inclusion? Why should I have to hold it in until I got home? I am absolutely shocked that I should have to cut my shopping trip short just because you have blocked access to the disabled toilet.’
‘Please change this ASAP. Everyone deserves a pleasant shopping experience. How disappointing. This shouldn’t be happening.’
While the boxes were moved shortly afterwards, Brooke was left shaken by this 'completely unacceptable' incident.
'The signs were supposed to indicate access and inclusion, but it was just blocked by boxes,' she continued.
'It’s a very frustrating thing being in a wheelchair and not being able to go to many places. This just highlights the lack of education and awareness.'
It's believed the boxes were wrongly placed there after the store received a large delivery of stock from interstate, resulting in restricted space for the boxes.
However, this excuse was not enough for Brooke as she pointed out that the situation got even worse.
Her husband, Martin, returned to the Woolworths store a few hours after the incident to check if the boxes had been moved from the area – and after discovering that they had been cleared, he was met with an even more absurd sign.
Scheduled for customer use, the sign had been replaced with another that declared the public toilet was for 'staff use only', directing customers to the shopping centre’s facilities.
When the customer's husband returned a few hours later, he discovered that a sign indicating that the toilet was for 'staff use only' was placed on the door. Credit: Facebook.
'WTF, Woolies?' the shopper wrote in her updated post.
Woolworths has issued an apology to the woman.
'We appreciate customers would expect that the disabled toilet would be available for use given its location in a public area of the store and this remains the case,' a Woolworths spokesperson said.
'We’ve been in touch with Brooke to say sorry and we look forward to welcoming her in-store again.'
Brooke, who works in the disability sector, expressed optimism that Woolworths will learn from the incident and educate its employees about inclusion.
She said: 'So many businesses need disability access and inclusion training and staff need to be educated on acceptable work areas spaces.'
'I need to be a voice for people in wheelchairs and have mobility issues who face this every day. It needs to be highlighted, and changes need to be made.'
This incident highlights the need for more awareness of disability access and inclusion. Not only do businesses need to educate their staff better on this issue, but it's also important that we, as consumers, keep an eye out for these and other issues when we're shopping either in-store or online.
Members, if you ever come across this sort of thing when you're out shopping, don't be afraid to raise your voice and turn it into a teaching moment. This is an important issue that the world needs to learn and act on, and we all have the power to make a difference.
What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below.
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