Supermarket workers taunted on camera for sick social media 'pranks'

Supermarket workers taunted on camera for sick social media 'pranks' Exhausted retail workers say they are being filmed by customers furious at being caught stealing - and others who target them with sick 'pranks' for social media views Supermarket workers are being tormented by social media users who film them and post the footage online, a leading retail charity has warned. Mobile phones and smart glasses are increasingly being used to record retail staff without consent - with many in the industry now worried about a further rise in incidents in the run-up to Christmas. The Mirror found dozens of videos on major social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube where employees appear to be targeted in cruel so-called 'pranks', with the results viewed by thousands of people. In one of these clips, a member of the public grabs hold of a microphone at a customer service desk and begins shouting over the PA system, accusing a female employee of 'assault' when she pulls it back from him. In several other videos, unsuspecting shop workers are filmed as the person behind the camera makes nonsensical or offensive requests, aiming to capture their puzzled reactions. Others show people screaming in the aisles or harassing other customers, and recording retail and security staff as they attempt to eject them from the premises. The rise of smart glasses and watches, which allow users to record video without being noticed, is said to be driving 'epidemic' in filming incidents. In a recent survey, 30% of shop workers told the Retail Trust they or a colleague had been recorded without permission last year. Two thirds (65%) of managers surveyed for handbook meanwhile said customer abuse was impacting their teams’ wellbeing, while 71% of staff said their mental health had deteriorated this year. One security guard, who did not want to be named to protect their identity, said: "There’s cameras on phones, in glasses and on watches now and they’re being used a lot more. If you’re dealing with a disruptive customer and ask them to leave, they can suddenly start filming you to try and catch you out. "I’ll speak to my manager afterwards and explain that somebody filmed me but that I believed I dealt with the situation correctly, but it can still put doubts in your head, even if you’re fully aware you’ve done everything right. You can take that home and think ‘I didn’t do anything to deserve that'." In newly-issued guidance, the Retail Trust advises shop workers who find themselves being filmed to ask politely for the person with camera to stop, and tells them it is acceptable to "step away" if they refuse to do so. Customers are meanwhile being reminded they can do their bit by being patient with retail staff, ensuring they feel supported at work. Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: "Our charity’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign will be calling on all of us to play our part by reminding everyone that something as simple as saying hello or thank you can make a real difference to someone working during one of the busiest times of the year." Retail workers' union Usdaw, who have been running their own campaign on the issue, previously warned that filming in shops is becoming an "epidemic", with new cases now being reported every day. Rab Donnelly, deputy general secretary, told this year's Usdaw conference: "This is intimidation, invasion of privacy. This is outright cruelty. Retail workers across the UK are being bullied, intimidated, and humiliated on a daily basis. We will not stand for it."