Nearly half of retail workers say they were abused by customers in the past year—and more than 1 in 5 have skipped shifts to stay safe
Many retail workers also say they think their employers placed a higher priority on inventory safety than worker safety.
According to a new survey commissioned by Halos, a workplace-safety technology company, nearly half (48%) of frontline retail workers have experienced customer abuse in the past year. Verbal abuse was the most common form, with 34% of respondents enduring shouting or swearing. Threats or intimidation were reported by 17% of workers.
Discriminatory comments or abuse affected 16% of respondents, while physical aggression was experienced by 10%. When asked about measures to improve their safety, 52% of retail workers prioritized clear consequences such as banning or removing customers, with 44% emphasizing clear support from management when enforcing policies or refusing service.
The survey aligns with findings from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which reported that 57% of its members had experienced verbal harassment or intimidating behavior from customers, coworkers, or managers in the past year. In a separate 2025 Harris Poll survey conducted for Verkada and the Loss Prevention Research Council, 35% of retail workers reported feeling unsafe at work, an increase from 27% in 2024.
The survey also revealed that 61% of retail workers believed their employers prioritized inventory safety over worker safety.
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