The holiday season is often associated with joy, goodwill, and cheer.

However, for retail workers, it can also be a time of increased stress and, alarmingly, a rise in violent incidents.

Woolworths, one of Australia's largest supermarket chains, is urging customers to show respect and courtesy to its staff members after a series of shocking attacks.

Its call came after one Woolies employee was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed a youth hurling the scooter at the unsuspecting worker, who is seen covering their face with their hands in pain before the assailant flees the scene.

CCTV footage showed a Woolies employee was hit in the eye by a metal scooter. Credit: 7NEWS Australia / Youtube

This is just one of several attacks on Woolworths staff caught on camera.

In another incident, a shopper who had trespassed into a staff-only area repeatedly kicked a staff member.

Meanwhile, another worker was punched in the head in the self-serve checkout area.

Unfortunately, these attacks were not isolated incidents.

According to the Woolworths Group, there has been a 50 per cent increase in violent incidents in 2022, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting an alarming 420 monthly incidents.

Woolies employees have expressed their concerns, and they feared going to work.

One employee confessed, ‘I'm scared at night at checkouts. I don't like working after 7 pm when there is no staff and it's not safe.’

Precaution against shoplifting is also reportedly one of the main reasons that anger customers.

'[We] ask to check their bag, that's when they get angry and swear and yell,’ the employee added.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci expressed his disappointment with this rising issue.

'There's psychological scarring in that,' said Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.

'It's happening all the time.'

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association NSW Branch Secretary Bernie Smith echoed Banducci's sentiments, stating, 'There’s never an excuse to take out this sort of behaviour on the person who’s there trying to help you.'

In response to the escalating violence, Woolworths has ramped up its de-escalation training for staff and invested over $40 million in upgrading its CCTV systems across the country. The company is also providing its employees with specialised virtual reality training to help them handle aggressive situations.

The supermarket giant has vowed to follow up on all reports of serious incidents and take necessary action. It's worth noting that offences involving assaults on retail staff carry hefty fines and potential jail time.

BIG W Store Manager Rohan Dennis appealed to customers for understanding and patience.

‘Be patient, be understanding of our team,’ he said.

'They’re just doing their jobs, they’ve got processes they need to follow,' he said.

You can watch 7News' report on the incidents at Woolworths below:

​

As we head into the holiday season, let's remember to show kindness and patience to the retail workers who help make our celebrations possible. After all, they deserve to enjoy the season just as much as the rest of us.

Key Takeaways

• Woolworths is urging shoppers to respect their staff following a series of attacks, including an incident where a worker was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.
• The Woolworths Group has increased de-escalation training for staff and upgraded their security cameras in response to these incidents.
• Assaults on retail staff have surged across the country, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting 420 incidents per month, a 50 per cent increase as compared to 2022.
• Woolworths employees now receive specialised virtual reality training to manage aggressive situations, and the company pledges to follow up on serious incidents and take necessary action.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you witnessed any incidents of retail violence? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

 

[KiwiTrish]

The holiday season is often associated with joy, goodwill, and cheer.

However, for retail workers, it can also be a time of increased stress and, alarmingly, a rise in violent incidents.

Woolworths, one of Australia's largest supermarket chains, is urging customers to show respect and courtesy to its staff members after a series of shocking attacks.

Its call came after one Woolies employee was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed a youth hurling the scooter at the unsuspecting worker, who is seen covering their face with their hands in pain before the assailant flees the scene.

View attachment 37296

CCTV footage showed a Woolies employee was hit in the eye by a metal scooter. Credit: 7NEWS Australia / Youtube

This is just one of several attacks on Woolworths staff caught on camera.

In another incident, a shopper who had trespassed into a staff-only area repeatedly kicked a staff member.

Meanwhile, another worker was punched in the head in the self-serve checkout area.

Unfortunately, these attacks were not isolated incidents.

According to the Woolworths Group, there has been a 50 per cent increase in violent incidents in 2022, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting an alarming 420 monthly incidents.

Woolies employees have expressed their concerns, and they feared going to work.

One employee confessed, ‘I'm scared at night at checkouts. I don't like working after 7 pm when there is no staff and it's not safe.’

Precaution against shoplifting is also reportedly one of the main reasons that anger customers.

'[We] ask to check their bag, that's when they get angry and swear and yell,’ the employee added.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci expressed his disappointment with this rising issue.

'There's psychological scarring in that,' said Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.

'It's happening all the time.'

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association NSW Branch Secretary Bernie Smith echoed Banducci's sentiments, stating, 'There’s never an excuse to take out this sort of behaviour on the person who’s there trying to help you.'

In response to the escalating violence, Woolworths has ramped up its de-escalation training for staff and invested over $40 million in upgrading its CCTV systems across the country. The company is also providing its employees with specialised virtual reality training to help them handle aggressive situations.

The supermarket giant has vowed to follow up on all reports of serious incidents and take necessary action. It's worth noting that offences involving assaults on retail staff carry hefty fines and potential jail time.

BIG W Store Manager Rohan Dennis appealed to customers for understanding and patience.

‘Be patient, be understanding of our team,’ he said.

'They’re just doing their jobs, they’ve got processes they need to follow,' he said.

You can watch 7News' report on the incidents at Woolworths below:

​

As we head into the holiday season, let's remember to show kindness and patience to the retail workers who help make our celebrations possible. After all, they deserve to enjoy the season just as much as the rest of us.

Key Takeaways

• Woolworths is urging shoppers to respect their staff following a series of attacks, including an incident where a worker was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.
• The Woolworths Group has increased de-escalation training for staff and upgraded their security cameras in response to these incidents.
• Assaults on retail staff have surged across the country, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting 420 incidents per month, a 50 per cent increase as compared to 2022.
• Woolworths employees now receive specialised virtual reality training to manage aggressive situations, and the company pledges to follow up on serious incidents and take necessary action.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you witnessed any incidents of retail violence? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

What is wrong with people nowadays? The anger the road rage the woman being killed it’s like the world has gone mad where has the anger come from? It’s like people have this “entitled “ personality now and more important than anyone else “chill people“ take a chill pill

 

[Col@45]

What is wrong with people nowadays? The anger the road rage the woman being killed it’s like the world has gone mad where has the anger come from? It’s like people have this “entitled “ personality now and more important than anyone else “chill people“ take a chill pill

So much violence in the world today, you wonder why this has happened!
Also all the violent movies on TV don't help. Kids are getting de-sensitized at an early age with violent video games also. There's no respect shown for anybody else these days. Bring back the good days when respect was taught to kids, instead now they're more likely to learn that everybody is violent towards each other.....lot of the time, they probably learn at home from parents with domestic violence on the rise.

 

[Marj53]

Maybe it's about time woollies and the other shops started employing big burly security guards instead of upgrading camera's. Camera's don't protect people.

 

[David567]

Bag checks have been around since the 70's. Anyone who refuses this standard check is guilty of something. Usually theft.
Stores need to start putting signs back up to warn customers bag check are mandatory. Customers who don't want their bag checked shouldn't take it into the shop. Simple as that.

 

[Anthony Evans]

The holiday season is often associated with joy, goodwill, and cheer.

However, for retail workers, it can also be a time of increased stress and, alarmingly, a rise in violent incidents.

Woolworths, one of Australia's largest supermarket chains, is urging customers to show respect and courtesy to its staff members after a series of shocking attacks.

Its call came after one Woolies employee was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV, showed a youth hurling the scooter at the unsuspecting worker, who is seen covering their face with their hands in pain before the assailant flees the scene.

View attachment 37296

CCTV footage showed a Woolies employee was hit in the eye by a metal scooter. Credit: 7NEWS Australia / Youtube

This is just one of several attacks on Woolworths staff caught on camera.

In another incident, a shopper who had trespassed into a staff-only area repeatedly kicked a staff member.

Meanwhile, another worker was punched in the head in the self-serve checkout area.

Unfortunately, these attacks were not isolated incidents.

According to the Woolworths Group, there has been a 50 per cent increase in violent incidents in 2022, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting an alarming 420 monthly incidents.

Woolies employees have expressed their concerns, and they feared going to work.

One employee confessed, ‘I'm scared at night at checkouts. I don't like working after 7 pm when there is no staff and it's not safe.’

Precaution against shoplifting is also reportedly one of the main reasons that anger customers.

'[We] ask to check their bag, that's when they get angry and swear and yell,’ the employee added.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci expressed his disappointment with this rising issue.

'There's psychological scarring in that,' said Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci.

'It's happening all the time.'

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association NSW Branch Secretary Bernie Smith echoed Banducci's sentiments, stating, 'There’s never an excuse to take out this sort of behaviour on the person who’s there trying to help you.'

In response to the escalating violence, Woolworths has ramped up its de-escalation training for staff and invested over $40 million in upgrading its CCTV systems across the country. The company is also providing its employees with specialised virtual reality training to help them handle aggressive situations.

The supermarket giant has vowed to follow up on all reports of serious incidents and take necessary action. It's worth noting that offences involving assaults on retail staff carry hefty fines and potential jail time.

BIG W Store Manager Rohan Dennis appealed to customers for understanding and patience.

‘Be patient, be understanding of our team,’ he said.

'They’re just doing their jobs, they’ve got processes they need to follow,' he said.

You can watch 7News' report on the incidents at Woolworths below:

​

As we head into the holiday season, let's remember to show kindness and patience to the retail workers who help make our celebrations possible. After all, they deserve to enjoy the season just as much as the rest of us.

Key Takeaways

• Woolworths is urging shoppers to respect their staff following a series of attacks, including an incident where a worker was hit in the eye with a metal scooter.
• The Woolworths Group has increased de-escalation training for staff and upgraded their security cameras in response to these incidents.
• Assaults on retail staff have surged across the country, with Woolworths and BIG W reporting 420 incidents per month, a 50 per cent increase as compared to 2022.
• Woolworths employees now receive specialised virtual reality training to manage aggressive situations, and the company pledges to follow up on serious incidents and take necessary action.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you witnessed any incidents of retail violence? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

Might carry hefty fines and jail time how often does this occur?

 

[David567]

I urge supermarkets to respect customers. We are not as stupid as you like to think. Maybe if supermarkets stopped the dishonesty there would be no voilence. Customers if you insist on bashing staff do it the Managers. They run the stores , not the staff.

 

[Knell]

I urge supermarkets to respect customers. We are not as stupid as you like to think. Maybe if supermarkets stopped the dishonesty there would be no voilence. Customers if you insist on bashing staff do it the Managers. They run the stores , not the staff.

ridiculous thing to say

 

[mylittletibbies]

ridiculous thing to say

Totally agree,.why people have to make a big fuss out of bag checks is beyond me. It's not the stores fault that they need to check bags, blame it on the morons who are shop lifting.
All you do by making a fuss is make yourself look like an idiot and.cause yourself so much unnecessary stress.
Just chill, show your bag and you're on your way, doesn't take a minute.
It doesn't make you look like a thief if you have your bag checked, but it sure does if you start kicking up a fuss.

 

[Glo72]

You can’t blame videos or games for all this disrespect and violence. The courts need to stop being soft on these lawbreakers. It is never okay to assault an innocent worker for doing their job.

 

[Kaylee]

I urge supermarkets to respect customers. We are not as stupid as you like to think. Maybe if supermarkets stopped the dishonesty there would be no voilence. Customers if you insist on bashing staff do it the Managers. They run the stores , not the staff.

Seriously!!!!

 

[Ezzy]

No employee should be afraid to go to work at any hour of the day or night.

Members here were recently against these employees wearing body cameras. They need better protection & those cameras when installed will catch more of the shoplifters & those who assault those employees but now get it right in the Courts.