Fewer than half of frontline workers say reporting abuse leads to meaningful action
London, UK — 18th August, 2026 – Fewer than half (48%) of frontline workers believe that reporting customer abuse or aggression leads to meaningful action, according to new research from body-worn camera company HALOS.
While 42% say they reported the last serious incident they experienced at work, the findings suggest that speaking up too often leads to little support, limited communication and no clear understanding of what happens next.
Among frontline workers who had either reported a serious incident themselves or knew a colleague who had, almost a third (31%) say the report was acknowledged only. Just one in five (20%) say support was offered, while only 14% say updates were provided on the outcome. A further 8% say there was no response at all.
The findings from 1,000 UK frontline workers point to a gap between having a reporting process and making it work in practice. Almost one in five (19%) of those who work with the public say reporting incidents is not quick and straightforward where they work. Among those who did not report their last serious incident, more than a quarter (26%) say the reason was that they did not believe anything would happen.
Workers also point to what would improve their confidence in the process. Almost a third (31%) say easier reporting and clear updates on outcomes would make the biggest difference to their safety and wellbeing at work. That’s particularly important when almost one in five (19%) do not believe their employer is proactive about preventing customer abuse.
Technology could also play an important role. More than half (54%) say they would feel safer with better technology to manage and document abusive incidents. Yet one in five (19%) say they’re not given the tools and technology needed to protect staff and ensure incidents are followed up on.
Commenting on the findings, Alan Ring, CEO of HALOS, said: “Reporting an incident of customer abuse should be the start of the process, not the end of it. But these findings suggest that too many reports are acknowledged without workers receiving support or clarity about what happens next.
“That lack of follow-through can weaken confidence in the process and make it harder for employers to identify patterns, support their teams and prevent further incidents. If people believe nothing will change, they may be less likely to report the next incident, leaving employers with an incomplete picture of the risks their teams face.
“Reporting must be quick and straightforward, workers need to be kept informed and managers need reliable evidence on which to act. When staff can see that speaking up leads to support and meaningful action, they’re far more likely to trust the process and feel confident reporting future incidents.”
To learn more about the findings, please see the full ‘Not Part of the Job’ report here.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For further information, please contact:
Toby Bailey
Methodology
This research was commissioned by HALOS and conducted by an independent research agency. The research comes from a representative sample of 1,000 UK workers who are currently in public-facing frontline roles and aged 18 and over. The study was conducted in April 2026.