'Zero-tolerance of abuse directed at retail workers over Christmas period' - Cllr Aisling Hutton
'Employers must do all they can to support their staff from being subject to abuse and support them when abuse does happen'
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Aisling Hutton (Sinn Féin) has said everything must be done to "ensure there is a zero-tolerance approach towards the abuse of retail workers over the busy Christmas period".
“For many the Christmas period is an enjoyable and uplifting time, however, it can also be a stressful time," said Cllr Hutton.
“This is especially true for retail workers in our city , for whom this is their busiest period," she added.
“The stress that shoppers experience is incomparable to the stress retail workers experience during this period, and it is inexcusable for anyone to take their frustrations out on a shop worker.
“Unfortunately for many workers in the retail sector, this is exactly what happens during the Christmas season.
“It’s concerning the level of abuse, physical and verbal, directed towards retail workers.
“This is totally unacceptable – there must be a zero-tolerance approach to the verbal and/or physical abuse of retail workers. Employers must do all they can to support their staff from being subject to abuse, but they must also support them when abuse does happen."