Retail workers are swapping name tags with colleagues to avoid harassment by customers as employers fear staff will walk off the job because of growing threats to their safety.

Nyakim Nyuon, 21, who has worked in the fast food industry for three years, said she has been harassed by customers who have tried to film her at work. She said her co-workers have swapped name tags after a customer stalked a colleague.

Fast food worker Nyakim Nyuon has experienced harassment from customers in the workplace.

"She ended up putting a fake name on her name tag," Ms Nyuon said. "I've had customers filming me without my consent and being flirtatious in a gross way."

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Tuesday released findings of a national survey of 3413 retail, fast food and warehousing workers which found 39 per cent had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years and sexually explicit comments or unwelcome advancements on social media.