People who display aggressive behaviours in retail settings are being warned to think twice, with tougher penalties in NSW for anyone caught abusing or harming a worker.
As the Christmas rush for shopping gets into full swing, the likelihood for workers to be assaulted increases.
The NSW Government is reminding everyone to behave respectfully towards people who serve you in retail outlets.
Workplace violence has significant impacts on a person's physical and psychological health, and includes any incident where a person is abused, threatened or assaulted at work, including physical assault, sexual assault, harassment or aggressive behaviour.
All retail workplaces should have in place systems outlining standards of behaviour for all staff and visitors onsite, as well as clear polices on how individuals and workplaces should respond when faced with violence and aggression from customers.
Everyone in the state is being reminded of new laws that passed parliament earlier this year which make it an offence to:
- assault, throw a missile at, stalk, harass or intimidate a retail worker in the course of the worker's duty, even if no actual bodily harm is caused to the worker, with a maximum penalty of 4 years' imprisonment
- assault a retail worker in the course of the worker's duty and cause actual bodily harm to the worker, with a maximum penalty of 6 years' imprisonment
- wound or cause grievous bodily harm to a retail worker in the course of the worker's duty, being reckless as to causing actual bodily harm to the worker or another person, with a maximum penalty of 11 years' imprisonment.
Videos of retail workers being assaulted have been widely shared on social media with many shocking and violent abuses caught on camera.
For more information on safety in the retail sector, visit the SafeWork website.
Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:
"As a former retail worker myself, I know how busy the Christmas period is. I want people to take a moment to remember that the people who serve you deserve respect.
"For people thinking about doing the wrong thing, think twice, you can and will be charged for assaulting a worker in NSW."
