• Over a third (37 per cent) of Britons have been sworn at by a member of the public whilst at work  
• One in six (16 per cent) have been threatened and a further seven per cent have been physically abused by a member of the public whilst at work
• Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of respondents believe that incidents of abuse towards customer facing workers have escalated over the last two years
• A third of 25-34 year olds have admitted losing their temper with a call centre worker, a shop worker or a bus driver, compared with 25 per cent of the over 55s
• More than three quarters (77 per cent) of respondents say they feel under pressure and that there aren’t enough hours in the day
• 28 per cent admit venting their frustration on the individual worker despite knowing it is their organisation that is to blame
• One in seven (14 per cent) don’t regret their actions afterwards, claiming that the customer facing worker ‘deserved it’    

Methodology: The research was undertaken by an independent online research agency, Tickbox.net, in May 2005 and it is based on a sample of 2,058 UK adults.