Vicki Poxon, CEO Windarring Disability
COVID-19 has affected people in many ways. Unfortunately a few people deal with their stress by lashing out at others. The incredible people who work in the retail industry bear the daily brunt of others unhappiness and anxiety.
But, I am shocked to tell you that at Castlemaine Windarring our clients working in our Recycled Shop have also been the targets of unhappy people. Recently, one of our clients was verbally abused because he asked a customer to follow COVID directions. The words that were said were designed to hurt and what the person said specifically targeted our client’s disability. To support our team members who have been abused we have provided counselling and other supports. They don’t understand why they have been treated this way.
We all understand that COVID is stressful but now that some restrictions for regional areas have been lifted I hope people can return to their usual happy place and leave all retail staff in peace to do the work they do very well.