Countdown staff face rise in abuse after LynnMall terror attack

The LynnMall Countdown is likely to reopen tomorrow with increased security measures, RNZ reveals, but Countdown spokesperson Kiri Hannifin said the company has seen a surge in violence and verbal abuse towards staff since the terrorist attack – mostly around the rules to wear masks. “We had a store manager slapped at the weekend… We had an incident in a South Auckland store where a team member was punched down the aisle. It’s physical and it’s verbal, it’s been a tough month,” Hannifin said. “(It) makes me feel very distressed and sick to my bones.”