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Commerce:
Sector-specific information on violence and stress

Little research has been conducted into the extent of workplace violence and stress in commerce. However, surveys in the United Kingdom (one of the few countries in which such research has been carried out) indicate that shop assistants are among the workers most vulnerable to occupational violence. A 2000 study by Independent Retail News found that a quarter of those who work in off-licences, newsagents and post offices across the United Kingdom have come face-to-face with robbers, while nearly 50% of independent shop owners have fallen victim to violent attacks. On a daily basis, retailers and their staff face assault, verbal abuse and other forms of intimidation. On average, at least one shop worker is attacked every hour of the working day, 25% of attacks involve a weapon, while four in 10 attacks lead to hospital treatment, a visit to a doctor or time off work. Almost half the shops that had suffered violence had been victims more than once. Over 40% of shopkeepers who had been attacked reported high stress levels, many of whom were considering closing their businesses. Not surprisingly, the increase in crime also causes further problems for retailers, because of increased insurance premiums and greater staff turnover; 37% of staff had left their jobs after being attacked.

A 1998 cross-sectoral study in Australia revealed that 46% of all Australians had experienced either verbal or physical abuse from a co-worker or manager in their working lives. Commerce, with 21.4% of all the victims (18.3% for retail) of workplace violence, was second only to manufacturing, with 29.8% of the total.

In Denmark, shop robberies, involving violence or threats of violence, are a growing problem. Crime registration data indicate that shop and petrol station robberies rose from 622 cases in 1996 to 768 in 2001. Denmark’s sectoral social partners responded to this situation of increasing violence and consequent stress by organizing an information and sensitization campaign in 2001 to enhance the safety of the retailing work environment. Among other things, the campaign provided guidance to employers and workers on how to reduce the risks of workplace violence through measures such as improved store layout and limits on cash at hand.