Veolia launches StreetKind campaign in Southend-on-Sea to protect its teams
As key workers across all industries report a rising rates of abuse
After a year in which essential services and the key workers who provided them were celebrated, over half of public-facing staff have reported a rise in abuse. Veolia is taking a stand after reports from frontline staff more than doubled across the UK, with a 118% increase compared to the same period last year. This picture is reflected in Southend-on-Sea where post pandemic frustration and increased road use is also leading to more frequent reports.
In response Veolia has launched StreetKind, with the backing of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. This is a new campaign thanking residents who recognise the hard work of their teams and taking stronger action against those who abuse or endanger their staff. Whilst the majority of people are respectful and kind to frontline staff, a rise in the most serious cases of physical and verbal abuse has led to a new commitment from the company to pursue more criminal prosecutions.
The campaign builds on previous Veolia initiatives focusing on building a safe workplace and includes a comprehensive training programme to support staff to diffuse situations, handle instances effectively and how and when to involve the police. Frustration at being stuck behind a collection vehicle or queues at recycling centres are not reasons to abuse key workers and the company is reaffirming its support to staff who are victims of abuse.
As well as appealing to the public to show their appreciation for our teams, we are also focusing on training and support for our employees to respond to incidents. We will take the most serious action for the most serious attacks, including criminal prosecutions, in order to build a safer workplace environment for our colleagues.
We are asking our residents to simply give thanks to staff they see carrying out their work, or simply just smiling and giving a wave. These little things make a huge difference to the morale of the teams, and we are all about fostering a sense of pride and joy within our soon to be City.
StreetKind will thank the majority of the public for respecting staff and ask them to show their appreciation now and again with a smile or a thank you when seeing the staff carrying out their duties or using our sites. It also aims to raise public understanding about the abuse suffered by key workers since the pandemic, stabilise incident reporting to ensure the problem is accurately represented and increase prosecutions for the worst offenders.
StreetKind is launching across the country and will be localised to each area. In Southend-on-Sea, the focus will be on the collections and street and public toilets cleansing services as well as on our two Household Waste and Recycling Centres, where incidents are most likely to occur.
For more information on the campaign visit https://www.veolia.co.uk/streetkind