Photo courtesy: Theen Moy, Flickr
Some supermarkets in Auckland are adjusting their operating hours due to rising concerns over anti-social behaviour.
Woolworths Point Chevalier announced last week that it would reduce its trading hours to 8 AM to 8 PM, this decision was made in collaboration with the supermarket workers’ union.
Rudd Hughes, the national secretary for retail and finance at FIRST Union, noted that similar measures were taken at Woolworths Onehunga three months prior, where the store opted to open earlier and close by 8 PM instead of 9 PM.
“In Onehunga, they changed the hours there to finish earlier. That will help, but it’s certainly not a silver bullet,” Hughes said.
In July, Woolworths reported a 50% increase in physical assaults at its stores compared to the previous year. Over a 12-month period, there were 925 recorded acts of violence and aggression, reflecting a 9% rise from the year before. Staff members have faced not only verbal abuse but also physical confrontations, with incidents of being spat on becoming increasingly common.
Hughes revealed that Woolworths maintains a risk register for retail crime, categorising stores based on their level of risk.
“Pt Chev is considered high. Given the amount of antisocial behaviour and threats from customers there, I want to know what very high would have to look like,” he said.
According to Hughes, approximately 33 stores in New Zealand were considered very high-risk.
While the reduction in working hours at the Point Chevalier location is voluntary for staff, there are concerns about its impact on their employment. Employees who do not opt for reduced hours may be reassigned to different areas within the store. Given the current trends, it is anticipated that more supermarkets throughout New Zealand may follow Woolworths’ lead in adjusting their hours to prioritise safety.