“I have been sexually assaulted multiple times over the years and had a lot of verbal abuse. I also had a stalker.”
Shop workers have faced threats, racism and sexual assault, Usdaw says(Image: Getty)
Northern Irish retail staff have described the abuse they regularly face in work, including racism, sexual assault and stalking.
Shop workers said they have been threatened and verbally abused while doing their jobs, with these incidents increasing following the pandemic.
A survey of 180 Northern Irish retail staff conducted by retail trade union Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) found that 87% were verbally abused, 45% were threatened and 7% were assaulted in 2025.
A significant factor in the high level of abuse faced by retail workers is theft from shops. Official statistics show that shoplifting has nearly doubled since the pandemic and rose by 5% in the year to September 2025 with 519,381 recorded offences, continuing a trend of quarterly increases.
One retail worker was repeatedly called “a stupid f**king b*tch” due to their company’s returns policy. “Was told I should have been aborted,” they added.
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Someone else had experienced an “anti-immigration, racist encounter,” while another revealed they had been sexually assaulted “multiple times” over the years, and also had a stalker.
Others recalled physical abuse, with one saying: “Drunk guy kicked my inside thigh trying to aim for my privates. Punched, pushed and have had things thrown at me.”
One person claimed they were often subjected to “anger aimed at me for things that are not my fault – self-serve machines not doing what the customer wants, not enough staff on tills, etc.”
Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said it was “difficult” to read the testimonies from Northern Ireland retail workers.
“Regrettably they are all too common, with nearly four in five retail workers suffering violence, threats or abuse,” she said. “No-one should feel afraid to go to work. Retail workers provide an essential service and should be respected and have the protection of the law.
“Violence and abuse are not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect retail workers. We welcome the introduction of the Sentencing Bill by the Northern Ireland Executive that will create a new offence of assaulting a person providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public.”
Ms Thomas added: “Usdaw and the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium made representations on this matter, and we look forward to continuing to engage with the Executive as this legislation passes through Stormont. After many years of campaigning, alongside retail employers, it really now feels like the Government is listening and taking action to give all retail workers across the UK the protections and respect they deserve.”
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