A CLONAKILTY retailer has told of the abusive behaviour his staff have been subjected to as he urged customers to show respect.

Sean Walsh (40), manager at the town’s busy Maxol on the Skibbereen Road, said unsavoury incidents were rare but they left staff shaken when they happened.

He recounted several instances of bad customer behaviour as a survey revealed that abusive language or behaviour is a reality for 70% of Irish retail workers.

Sean, who moved to West Cork from New York City in 2020, said the filling station and shop employs 26 full- and part-time staff and their welfare was just as important as serving the customer.

He said: ‘It’s a busy spot, we serve hundreds of people every day, but we treat everyone as we would want to be treated. On a rare occasion we do get customers acting inappropriately.’

He said while one demographic could not be held responsible the majority of offenders tended to be visitors from other counties or countries, or teenagers acting out.

‘Visitors want to get in and out as quickly as possible, but we’re not mind readers,’ he said.

‘Some people want things done a certain way and if it doesn’t happen their way there can be consequences.’

Listing two examples he told how one customer at the deli counter reacted badly when the meal deal could not be altered to accommodate an alternative product.

‘They took a fizzy drink and poured it on the floor then pushed the food onto the floor as well and walked out,’ recounted Sean.

‘On another occasion a staff member was at the tills and the customer presented an illegible note.

The staff member used the counterfeit pen and it was showing up as a fake.

‘We told the customer we couldn’t accept the bill. They started cursing, throwing everything off the counter, then made a scene and left the shop without paying.’

Sean said his main concern was the staff member, as many of the team are still in education and working part-time so this is their first job.

‘When it happens it does leave staff shaken,’ he said. ‘Also being told no is like a red flag. With the sale of vapes and the age restriction we ask for ID but some people to not take kindly to that.’

Sean, whose background is in hospitality, said the team at Maxol Clonakilty were looking forward to a busy summer season which typically starts in March and lasts into October.

‘The bread and butter of the shop is fuel for the car, as in petrol, and fuel for the body, as in coffee. Ice cream is hugely popular too along with our milkshakes.

‘To me my staff are my internal guests and customers are external guests.’

The findings of the new research showed that race or ethnicity of staff was targeted in 36% of abuse cases, with 24% of retail workers saying incidents of abuse are more common between 5pm and 8pm.

Retail workers also associate abusive behaviour with periods of increased pressure in store.

Almost a third (32%) say incidents are more likely to occur during busy periods, while 31% report weekends as a more likely time.