Half of Young Scots Serving the Public Experience Violence from Clients

Almost half of all Scottish young workers who deal with the public have been exposed to violence, according to new research. A study that is part of a campaign urging people to know their rights in the workplace also found that 31% had been verbally or physically attacked, threatened, sworn or spat at by a member of the public in the last 12 months. However, 48% of those who experience abuse viewing it as "part of the job". Fears are greatest among female workers, with one in five worried about dealing with violence at work. The research, commissioned for the Scottish Executive's Bang Out of Order campaign, was conducted among 16 to 24-year-olds during October. Respondents worked in a range of sectors which deal with the public, including hospitality, retail, fast food, healthcare, call centre and transport organizations.