The trade union’s annual ‘Freedom from Fear’ survey found nearly two-thirds of shopworkers have been verbally abused at work, while 41% have been threatened by a customer.

Nearly 5% of staff have also been assaulted at work, amounting to approximately 400 incidents every day across all shopworkers.

The survey coincides with Usdaw’s annual Respect for Shopworkers Week, which seeks to prevent verbal abuse, threats and violent attacks against retail staff.