Staff in retail stores and call centres are facing so much abuse from angry customers that some feel it is unsafe to come to work. Jane Phare reports.

A Wellington business manager has closed her boutique Petone shop until further notice, to protect herself and her staff from customers whose abusive behaviour caused her to be on the verge of burnout.

Ana Warnock, who is in the process of buying The Sewing Depot in Petone from the previous owner, told customers in a Facebook post last week that she was forced to close the store due to the "backlash and bad behaviour from a large number of our normally lovely customers."

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