'Shop with respect': NSW warns customers of consequences for abusing retail workers

Nearly 100 individuals charged for offences under NSW's Crimes Legislation Amendment

BY Dexter Tilo 17 Dec 2024

The New South Wales government is reminding customers to be respectful to retail workers or risk facing charges under new legislation aimed at protecting these employees.

Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis said people should "take a moment to remember" that retail workers deserve respect.

"For people thinking about doing the wrong thing, think twice, you can and will be charged for assaulting a retail worker in NSW," Cotsis said in a statement.

The NSW government passed last year the Crimes Legislation Amendment Act, which makes 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 four 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 six 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.

Since its implementation, nearly 100 individuals have been charged under the act, according to the NSW government. It also saw 44 individuals convicted of an offence and 13 others receiving a custodial imprisonment sentence.

"The NSW Government is talking a zero-tolerance approach. Retail workers have the right to feel safe when they go to work and these strong laws will continue to protect them," Cotsis said.

'Shop with respect' campaign

The warning comes as the NSW government and the industry reminded customers to "shop with respect" to protect retail workers from potential abuse in a new campaign this busy holiday season.

"No one deserves to be spat on, threatened with weapons, intimidated, or harassed for simply doing their job. Let's work together to keep our retail staff safe this Christmas," said Fleur Brown, Chief Industry Affairs Officer of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), in a statement.

The retail sector in NSW is regarded as the second-largest employment industry in the state, representing nine per cent of the total workforce.

Abuse against retail workers

ARA's recent survey found that more than 92% of retailers have experienced or have had a team member experience verbal or physical assault at work.

A separate poll from the Shop, Distributive, and Allied Employees Association (SDA) also found that 76% of retail workers have experienced regular verbal abuse in the past 12 months.

Another 12.5% also suffered physical damage, a 50% increase from a similar survey two years ago.

"Christmas is meant to be a time of peace and goodwill to all. We ask customers to stop, reflect, and do the right thing in shops this Christmas," said Bernie Smith, Secretary of SDA NSW, in a statement. "Be kind to retail workers this Christmas, it's the best Christmas present you can give them."