Electronics giant CEX has found itself at the centre of a social media firestorm after employees at one of its branches staged a highly controversial window display that has been widely condemned as mocking retail staff.
The scene, photographed and shared online by a shocked customer, featured a shop mannequin dressed in the retailer's signature red t-shirt, slumped lifelessly over a checkout till. The display was completed with a printed label that read: 'Average Retail Worker'.
The image quickly went viral, with hundreds of people expressing their outrage at what they perceived as a 'disgusting' and 'tone-deaf' portrayal of shop floor employees. Many commented that it made light of the very real mental and physical exhaustion experienced by workers in the sector.
One furious social media user wrote: 'This is an absolute disgrace. Retail workers are on their feet all day, dealing with difficult customers and immense pressure. To mock them like this is just vile.'
Another added: 'Who on earth thought this was a good idea? It's not a joke, it's a sad reality for many who are overworked and underpaid.'
Facing a torrent of online criticism, a spokesperson for CEX issued a swift apology, confirming the display had been removed. They stated that the actions of the individual employees involved did not reflect the company's values and that the matter was being 'dealt with internally'.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment and perception of retail workers in the UK, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, which highlighted their essential role.
