Released 29/11/2018
Canberrans are being encouraged to check their behaviour before they head to the checkout this festive season, as the ACT Government partners with the SDA for the No One Deserves a Serve campaign.
In 2017, 90 percent of ACT fast food and retail workers reported being verbally abused by a customer in the previous 12 months.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety Rachel Stephen-Smith said this behaviour was not acceptable and very troubling.
“I think many Canberrans will be shocked that our fast food and retail workers are subject to physical and verbal abuse at their place of work – places that many of us also visit regularly and where our friends, family and neighbours work” she said.
“Abuse shouldn’t be in a day’s work and when it is it can have severe long lasting impacts on the worker and their colleagues’ psychological and physical health.
“Unfortunately such abusive behaviors can escalate in periods of stress and as we head in the festive season, I’d like to remind our community to treat all workers with respect.”
Minister Stephen-Smith said retail and fast food workers had reported customers swearing and yelling at them, spitting in their faces or threatening them.
“Everyone has the right to do their job in a safe environment and in partnership with the SDA, WorkSafe ACT and Access Canberra will be providing information to workers that this behaviour is not ok and where and how they can get support,” she said.
“To further support accessibility of this important information, the materials will be available in Simplified Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese.
“Information will also be provided to businesses to display near registers reminding customers to check their behaviour because No One Deserves a Serve.”
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases
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