Threats in the shop’s customer service could be countered with a business access ban.
Shoplifting have increased since 2019 by up to 26 percent and robberies by 15 percent. Every shoplifting situation is a threatening situation that can escalate into violence. Up to 80 percent of those caught have at least a fist iron or a knife.
Improper behavior, threats and harassment towards store staff are constantly increasing. 70 percent of those who responded to the 2023 membership survey of the service industry trade union had encountered harassment or other inappropriate behavior from customers during the past year. Young people are at even greater risk. 87 percent of them said they had encountered harassment. According to the Finnish Trade Federation’s consumer survey, already in 2022, almost half had come across inappropriate behavior in customer service situations. At least in the store, the percentages are not going to get better.
The law obliges the employer to take care of occupational safety. Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is a goal that is easy to agree with. However, the legislation does not provide sufficient means for this. It is the legislator’s duty and responsibility to make new legislation. Finland needs to pass a restraining order law without delay, so that the employer can apply for a restraining order to protect his employees and his company. The need is acute.
It is legitimate to ask, what worse has to happen in the store’s daily customer service situations, that the employer is given the tool it needs, the opportunity to apply for a restraining order to take care of the legal obligation. As a society, we can no longer afford to send a message other than that inappropriate behavior in another person’s workplace has serious consequences.
Terhi Kuljukka-Rabb
leading expert
Trade Union
Erika Kähärä
work environment expert
Service industry trade union Pam
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