Sainsbury’s has become the largest grocery retailer to join the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign, calling on shoppers to treat retail workers with kindness and respect in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.
The campaign, backed by hundreds of retail and leisure businesses, aims to raise awareness of the impact of customer abuse and crime on shop workers. Messages will appear in stores, online and on receipts, encouraging customers to show simple signs of respect.
More than three quarters of shop workers told the Retail Trust they had experienced customer abuse in the previous year, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the sector.
Protecting retail workers’ wellbeing
Tracey Clements, Chief Retail, Logistics and Supply Chain Officer at Sainsbury’s, said no colleague should have to worry about abuse, threats or violence at work, warning that such experiences can have a serious and lasting impact on wellbeing.
While Sainsbury’s is investing in measures to help keep colleagues and customers safe, Clements stressed that retailers cannot tackle the problem alone.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said Sainsbury’s support would help the campaign reach millions of shoppers. He called for greater respect for retail workers, noting that even simple gestures such as a greeting or thank you should be part of everyday interactions.
The Retail Trust also provides training and practical tools to help retail workers deal with abuse. This includes support being rolled out across 17 Landsec shopping destinations nationwide this autumn.
The campaign brings together retailers, industry bodies and crime prevention organisations, including Usdaw, the Association of Convenience Stores and the National Business Crime Centre, to highlight retail crime and abuse and encourage safer, more respectful workplaces.
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