Retail organisations call for consideration for workers this Christmas
The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium is urging shoppers to be considerate to all retail workers and customers this Christmas.
As the busy festive trading period gets into full swing the organisation is calling on shoppers to play their part in creating a safe and enjoyable retail experience.
NIRC, and the shop worker’s union, Usdaw are throwing their weight behind the industry’s festive ‘ShopKind’ campaign which comes as levels of abuse and violence towards those in customer service continues to climb. According to the BRC’s 2025 Annual Crime Survey, incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers rose over 50% in the past year, reaching over 2,000 incidents per day. According to the retail union Usdaw, 71% of shopworkers experienced verbal abuse during the past 12 months.
Retail is one of Northern Ireland’s largest private sector employers with about 100,000 people directly working in the industry. The festive season is a crucial trading period for many shops, with every purchase helping to support jobs in local retail and throughout the supply chain.
Christmas is an incredibly complex and challenging time of year for the retail industry. Everyone is working extra hard to keep shelves stocked and to deliver products. Consequently, stores and delivery services will naturally be a little busier.
It is therefore essential that everyone plays their part in creating a friendly and enjoyable environment for other customers and workers this Christmas, and the NIRC and Usdaw are asking for patience, kindness and consideration during this busy time.
Last week the NIRC met with the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA to unveil the ‘tis the season to ShopKind’ poster.
“As the clock counts down to Christmas Day retail stores and websites will become increasingly busy,” said Neil Johnston, Director of the NIRC.
“People in retail will again be doing a brilliant job working hard to look after customers, helping them find what they need, keeping shelves stocked and delivering goods. While this time of year can be a little stressful, any mistreatment of store colleagues and delivery drivers will not be tolerated.
“Confrontations, be it verbal abuse or physical assault, can take a huge toll on victims, their families and their colleagues. When everyone shows a little Christmas kindness and courtesy – everyone will be better off. That way we can all enjoy shopping over the festive period and support local jobs and the vibrancy of our high streets and retail destinations.”
