Hiram Harrington, who works in Dublin, has encountered several bad reactions from shoppers unwilling to keep their faces covered – but what happened last Thursday was her worst experience.
She asked the customer to wear a face covering if they were to continue shopping: “I said, ‘Sir, I’d actually prefer if you left if you’re not going to wear a mask in store’.
“He threw one of the items of clothing he was holding on the ground, and he proceeded to walk to the front door with two pairs of socks tucked under his arm, as if he was going to walk out with them.
“As he was at the door I said, ‘Sir, could you please leave these socks at the door?’ And then he threw them at me.”
She added: “As he walked out of the shop he was cursing and shouting, saying it was ridiculous”.
Ms Harrington said the pandemic has made her nervous around difficult customers.
“Before … maybe someone was a little rude or maybe someone got a bit short with you or maybe you didn’t know something … now it’s different as it’s an actual health issue and I’m more afraid to deal with difficult customers because you know, what if?
“You see these videos of people coughing on people on the street if they’ve had an argument with them,” she said.
Retail Excellence Ireland has said customer compliance with wearing face coverings has been generally high at around 90 per cent – but it seems to be harder to achieve in smaller shops and convenience stores.
Trade union Mandate has advised its members not to approach customers who are not wearing a mask and to ask their manager to confront them.
