Tension at the till: coping strategies from coach

• Published date: 24 June 2021
• Publication title: Central Otago News

‘‘In recent times this appears to have been exacerbated in retail and customer-facing environments. Aggressive outbursts, inappropriate language and comments, unacceptable behaviour ... and much worse, becoming more commonplace.’’

Her services had been called upon many times since the May stabbings to provide some sort of explanation for this behaviour.

‘‘Many reasons are being offered such as length of time spent working away from real people during COVID [lockdowns and restrictions]. More screen time leaving people unaware of appropriate spatial distancing, which causes them to cross personal boundaries. People who lack intimate relationships in their life reading the wrong signals and doing or saying inappropriate things. Shorter fuse for things that are not done quickly, having to wait for a perceived ‘long time’.’’

Cromwell New World owner-operator Phil Ryan said the store had begun the training in the ‘‘dos and don’ts’’ of handling armed offenders last week.

‘‘The main thing is to get that person out of your...