Retail staff our unsung heroes
2020 has changed the nation — and the Territory — forever.
While many are looking forward to putting the year that was behind us, there are a number of things to celebrate, most notably the incredible work essential workers have done this year.
Many words have been used to describe this year: unprecedented, challenging, difficult — I can even think of a couple of more colourful words too — but one thing is for sure, it’s been eyeopening.
This year has shown many Territorians just how essential workers in healthcare, transport and logistics, emergency services, hospitality and cleaning are, and shone a light on the incredible work they do.
But also, the Territory’s retail workers have been the unsung heroes of this crisis.
These proud Territorians stocked the shelves, manned the checkouts and made sure we could put the food on the table throughout the pandemic.
They were the ones that allowed us to celebrate Christmas!
Who would have thought at the beginning of this year that by the end of 2020, fights for toilet paper would seem nothing out of the ordinary?
Across the retail and fast food sectors, these workers have put up with a lot.
From panic buying, QR check-ins and new safety measures, Territory workers have shown tremendous resilience.
What these workers have done is nothing short of heroic. But retail workers can’t kick up their feet, crack a beer and try to forget this year just quite yet.
With Christmas Day done and dusted, over the next few days, thousands of retail workers will be giving up their time off as Territorians flock to the shops to snag a bargain in the post-Christmas sales.
While the threat of COVID-19 may be slowly vanishing from the NT, another threat remains at large in the retail industry: customer abuse and violence.
From swearing and yelling to spitting and threatening behaviour, there’s no excuse for the increasing amount of physical and verbal abuse that retail and fast food workers in the Territory deal with on a daily basis.
Over 85 per cent of retail workers have reported experiencing physical or verbal abuse from customers at work.
Through COVID, we have seen incidents of customer abuse increase 400 per cent in some retailers.
To make matters worse, a recent study we conducted has found that one in five retail workers were coughed on or spat on this year.
That kind of behaviour is not on. Workers across the Territory deserve better.
Customer abuse is a very real and serious threat for retail workers and can have long-term effects on their mental health and impact other areas of their lives.
The best way to stop this behaviour and keep retail workers safe is by being kind.
Retail workers aren’t robots.
They’re mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters.
They’re human beings who deserve to be treated with respect — just like everyone else.
Without retail workers, many families wouldn’t have been able to put food on the table on Christmas Day, or presents under the tree.
Without retail workers, many Territorians quite frankly wouldn’t have been able to get through this crisis.
The essential role these workers play in our society cannot be understated.
Throughout the COVID crisis, and Christmas, retail workers have helped keep the Territory running.
So, if you’re out shopping this week, please be kind and patient with those serving you.
Whether it’s a long queue, an item being out of stock or something not being on sale, before you get to the checkout, take a deep breath and remember: no one deserves a serve for just trying to do their job.