'Not okay': Plea to combat increased assaults on shop workers ahead of Christmas

Woolworths and the retail workers union are launching a campaign to eradicate violence and abuse directed at staff.

They say the problem has become an epidemic, which needs to be eradicated ahead of Christmas.

The Woolworths Group, which includes Woolworths and Big W, said nobody should be hurt at work.

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More than 2000 incidents of violence and abuse have been reported across Australian stores since July 1.

Shocking video shows some of the incidents.

One lot of footage shows a man storming into the service desk at Parramatta in Sydney before repeatedly punching and kicking the staff member who's on the floor.

In another video a worker is shoulder barged and her head hits the ground.

In an assault at Mount Hutton near Newcastle a team member is struck in the head with a scooter before the offender runs away. 

Acts of verbal and physical abuse were most common, and those where staff were threatened with a weapon. 

Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci said there were more than 10 incidents a day in stores.

"There's physiological scarring in that, it's happening all the time," he said.

BIG W managing director Dan Hake said, "It's not okay."

"It's very confronting and it needs to stop," he said

Bernie Smith from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association said there had been a 50 per cent increase in aggression and violence towards retail workers in the past two years.

There will be radio announcements and posters reminding customers to respect workers.

The Woolworths Group is offering staff virtual reality training for common aggressive situations.