The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is today launching its campaign for the Right To Be Safe, looking particularly at personal safety and working during Covid-19. As businesses such as pubs and restaurants open up from this week, we are concerned that Covid-19 related incidents of violence and aggression such as verbal abuse, harassment, and customers spitting, coughing and sneezing on purpose may increase. In addition, with a high number of people working from home for the foreseeable future, they have effectively become lone workers. For many employees, it is unclear what safety systems employers have been putting in place to mitigate risks in these new working environments.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is therefore today launching guidance for employers and employees to stay safe from violence and aggression while working during Covid-19. The guidance identifies some of the current personal safety risks associated with working during the pandemic and highlights, through our Charter on Workplace Safety, what employers and employees can do to stay safe at work. We will also be launching our latest podcast discussing 'The psychology of violence and aggression and the Covid-19 pandemic' and exploring ways employers can support staff.

In addition, Suzy Lamplugh Trust is calling on the Government to urgently release the results of the Home Office's 'Call for Evidence about Violence and abuse towards shop staff' in 2019, and to take action accordingly to better protect workers. 

Suky Bhaker, CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust said; "During the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen a number of incidents of violence and aggression against workers across a range of sectors and our concern is that these may increase as pubs, restaurants and other businesses continue to open up with the easing of lockdown restrictions. We would urge employers and employees to work together to ensure that personal safety is a priority, whether working from home or in a workplace. Now more than ever it is so important that worker's right to be safe is upheld."