‘Stay away’: Warning for Christmas shoppers amid disturbing festive trend

Australians have been issued a warning over a disturbing festive trend as the deadline for Christmas shopping looms.

Australians have been urged to “stay away” from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping if they’re prone to losing their temper following a rise in verbal and physical abuse over the festive period.

Retail and Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan said the Christmas period could lead to an “escalation of frustrations” across retail and hospitality workplaces, with people who normally wouldn’t engage acting disrespectfully.

“We’ve got this ongoing undercurrent of people who behave in offensive and often unlawful conduct,” Mr Cullinan said.

Disrespectful behaviour towards retail and fast-food workers escalates at Christmas. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

He issued a simple message to shoppers who may be prone to losing their temper.

“If they’re feeling like the frustrations, annoyance, or whatever else is overcoming them, they shouldn’t be in anyone’s workplace,” he said.

However, Mr Cullinan rejected the idea shoppers should treat staff as they would family.

“Our pitch isn’t that they should treat every worker like their brother, sister, father,” he said.

“This discourse we often see of a plea for people to treat retail and fast food workers with respect – that’s nonsense.

“That’s just being a human, and if someone needs to here that plea they’ve just gone too far and they should stay away until they’re prepared to treat retail and fast food workers with respect.”

CALL FOR EMPLOYERS TO DO MORE

Mr Cullinan said disrespectful behaviour towards staff was exacerbated by employers not adequately dealing with it throughout the year.

“For example, supermarkets and retailers aren’t banning or prosecuting offenders, but at this time of year we do see it escalate often because people who would otherwise maybe control themselves better in stores are letting their frustrations cause disrespect or abuse to workers,” he said.

Shoppers have been urged to steer clear of stores if they are prone to losing their temper. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

Mr Cullinan also called for shoppers to call out fellow customers if they see inappropriate conduct.

“They should be stepping up,” he said and encouraged people to call security or police.

He also noted workers paid minimum wage – many of whom were young – shouldn’t have to be “dealing with the kind of conduct that no one else would accept”.

Australian Retailers Association chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown echoed Mr Cullinan’s sentiment and noted one in 10 Australians worked in retail, with numbers growing during the festive season.

“The festive season is a period where many young workers take on their first jobs, while others might be taking on extra casual shifts on top of other work,” Ms Brown said.

“Everyone is working hard and doing their best to provide a seamless customer experience.”

She said retail workers had been there for the community “through thick and thin in recent years”.

“Nobody deserves a serve, and we are urging everybody to treat retail workers with kindness and respect,” she said.