The horrifying number of workers who’ve been abused by customers

Christmas shoppers are being urged to chill out, with the statistics surrounding retail and hospitality worker abuse truly confronting.

Bernie Smith, from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, told 3AW a whopping 85 per cent of their members had reported being abused by a customer in the past two years.

Some 15 per cent have been physically attacked, while 12 per cent were sexually harassed or abused.

“When you hear some of the stories, your eyes roll because you just can’t believe people behave that way,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear his thoughts on what drives the issue