Have the public become more abusive post lockdown? Comedians certainly think so. Others argue audience behaviour was deteriorating before lockdown but has certainly got worse. Managers supporting staff who deal directly with the public have been concerned about reports of increased aggressive and abuse behaviour for a number of years.
The problem has grown to such an extent that in some areas of work employees have come to expect almost daily instances of abuse as the norm. The reason for this are undoubted as much to do with social attitudes as individual personalities. But whatever the reason for people feeling more able to vent their frustrations and opinions in such an unrestrained and aggressive way the issue for employers is how best to protect and support employees.
