Catering firms most likely business to suffer anti-social behaviour

Catering firms are more likely to suffer anti-social behaviour at work than any other small business sector, according to a new study.

Report author Zurich Financial Services found nearly half (49%) of surveyed individuals in the catering industry had been subjected to anti-social behaviour at work.

This compared with 42% of employees in shops and 32% in offices.

Catering also topped the league of sectors that had suffered damage to their actual businesses, with 69% of catering firms vandalised or enduring fights between members of the public on the premises.

Zurich’s study found over half of UK small business owners, around 2.3 million, had fallen victim to abusive and threatening behaviour in the course of their day-to-day operation.

David Nichols, small business manager for Zurich’s UK commercial business, said: “It’s important that businesses understand the potential impact of any litigation brought against them by employees subjected to any such behaviour. Certain occupations can be particularly vulnerable here – the pub/club sector for example.”

Home Office: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/

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Zurich Tips to protect employees and the business

• Introducing steel grilles, bars or roller shutters can protect vulnerable windows.
• The presence of a CCTV device inside/externally to the business can act as a significant deterrent to would-be perpetrators of acts of intimidation and/or vandalism.
• We advise any business to conduct a formal risk assessment. This should help to identify any potential pitfalls with regards to
  security or staff levels at given times of the day for instance so  that reasonable action can be taken to lessen any exposure to risk these might present.
• Ensuring prompt repair of damage and speedy removal of graffiti can help prevent your premises being seen as an "easy target" and the severity of occurrences potentially rising.

By Alix Young

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