Coles, Woolworths on the Gold Coast with empty shelves as retail workers cop horrific abuse

Retail staff have had items thrown at them and told to “go kill themselves” by rogue customers as shortages continue to plague major chains. THEIR STORIES

Retail staff have reported a surge in abuse from irate customers amid continuing stock shortages.

One worker at a northern Gold Coast supermarket was told to kill himself, while others said items had been thrown at them.

Workers have also reported being coughed on and spat at as supply chain issues stemming from soaring Covid-19 cases cause shortages of key items including meat, toilet paper and paracetamol.

Empty shelves at Woolworths, Australia Fair. Picture: Lea Emery

The problem has not been confined to supermarkets, with a furniture store worker telling the Bulletin staff had been left “shaking and crying” by abusive customers.

“Transport, warehouse, customer service and stores are obviously suffering right now and stock is delayed, but people do not care and they will just scream at you,” the worker said.

“On occasions I have literally picked up stock and loaded my car and dropped it to customers myself as delivery drivers have been in isolation. You don’t even get a thank you.

“We are getting abused every day about little things that are out of our control. Myself and other staff have been left shaking and crying.

“We have had people yelling at us in the store and taking photos of us saying they will post our pictures all over social media because we can’t give exact days furniture might arrive, only approximates.

“... I have anxiety driving to work most days at the moment wondering what might happen.”

SDA Queensland branch secretary Chris Gazenbeek, whose union represents retail, fast food and warehouse workers, said the abuse reported on the Gold Coast was “appalling”.

“We have heard of increased customer abuse, including violent incidents, at the height of this Covid Omicron outbreak,” Mr Gazenbeek said.

“We call on the community to respect retail workers. They are your parents, your partners, your children, your grandchildren. They want to go to work, keep you fed, put food on the table, put stock on the shelf, and they want to go home without being abused.

“No one deserves a serve. Please respect them.”

An SDA survey in December 2020 showed that 21 per cent of essential workers in retail, fast food, supermarkets and petrol stations had been coughed or spat on by customers, a figure Mr Gazenbeek described as “staggering”.

The survey results also showed that 88 per cent of respondents had suffered verbal abuse from customers in the previous 12 months, while almost eight per cent had experience physical violence.

The abuse comes despite that fact that in April 2020 the state government introduced a Public Health Direction stating that anyone guilty of deliberately coughing, sneezing or spitting on workers including shop assistants and food delivery drivers could face on-the-spot fines of $1335, or court-ordered penalties of up to $13,345.

Offences involving violence can also result in common assault charges, which carry penalties of up to three years in prison.

Spokespeople for the major supermarkets asked customers to be patient and treat staff with respect.

“Coles does not tolerate abuse or disrespect towards our team members or other customers in our stores,” a Coles spokesperson said.

“We know that the majority of our customers appreciate and respect our team members and the great service they provide them.

“... We ask that they continue to treat our team with kindness and respect, and to purchase only what they need.”

A Woolworths spokesperson said “the vast majority of customers do the right thing” and “are courteous and respectful to our team members.”

“We understand that it’s frustrating when our customers can’t get the products they need and we’ll continue to do all we can to meet demand,” the spokesperson said.

“We ask all our customers to be considerate of our team and each other as we work together to get through this difficult time.”

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Empty shelves in supermarkets as changes made to close contacts

JNAUARY 11: Fancy a steak, or some veg to go with it? Or just some loo roll? Well, you’re out of luck.

In a throwback to 2020, toilet paper, produce, long-life milk and frozen food are out of stock at Gold Coast supermarkets.

The Bulletin observed shops at Mermaid Waters, Robina, Burleigh and Southport were all in short supply of key items over the past week.

A Coles spokesperson said recent increases in Covid case numbers in the community had required more people to isolate, which impacted the availability of labour throughout the food supply chain.

“At a time when inventory levels were already reduced in the post-Christmas period, our distribution centres are receiving fewer inbound deliveries and we have fewer team members available to process and dispatch stock to our stores,” she said.

“Meanwhile demand is elevated as customers choose to eat more meals at home to reduce their exposure to the rest of the community.

“We welcome announcements from the New South Wales and Queensland state governments to exempt essential workers in the food production and logistics sectors from requirements to isolate if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive to Covid.”

Temporary purchase limits are in place for mince, chicken and sausages – shoppers are only allowed two packs. The one-pack limit on Rapid Antigen Tests continues to apply.

Queensland Health has warned the state to stock up on food to prepare for catching Covid-19, via social media.

“It’s likely that you may become infected with Covid-19,” the post reads.

“Most fully vaccinated people will only experience a mild illness, but if you do test positive, both you and members of your household will need to isolate for a minimum of seven days.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a new set of arrangements for workers in critical supply chains, and processing, food production, and distribution, as well as emergency services would see workers who don’t have Covid-19 symptoms able to return to work, after being exposed to the virus.

“As the case numbers continue to rise the volume of cases will of course have an inevitable impact on the workforce,” he said.

“And so we are looking to maximise those who can remain in the workforce. That is why these arrangements are being put in place. But anyone who is symptomatic, has Covid, they are not going into work.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to media during a press conference in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“This is an incredibly tough time on business, there aren’t lockdowns but there are many people obviously impacted by being close contacts or people being wary, or those indeed who have Covid themselves.

“That is having an impact on consumer spending - that’s predictable and understandable.”

Federal chief health officer Paul Kelly said workers in food production, and grocery production, including manufacturing, and distribution centres, would be allowed to return to work.

“It does not include or apply to people working in the retail sector that are immediately facing the public but it does include night stackers for example in stores themselves online ordering,” he said.