80% of Retail Workers Feel Unsafe While on the Job, New Theatro Study Shows
2024年5月21日 - 10:17PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Survey findings from Theatro shed new light on the state of the
retail industry as staffing shortages intensify safety threats
faced by frontline workers.
As retail stores across the nation grapple with industry-wide
security concerns, the recent rise in labor shortages is making it
even harder for workers to maintain a safe environment–with a real
impact on personal lives and industry stability. According to a new
survey from Theatro, 80% of retail workers are scared every day as
they clock in for work, and 72% have experienced incidents in which
staff couldn’t respond to a threat because their store was
understaffed.
The 2024 Retail Worker Safety Survey was conducted
for Theatro by the third-party platform Pollfish. To understand
this retail safety crisis and how retailers can act proactively,
Theatro asked 600 in-store retail workers aged 18+ in the top 15
metropolitan areas across the United States about their experiences
on the job.
Key findings include:
- 80% of in-store workers don’t feel protected by retailers while
on the job and are taking drastic measures to ensure their personal
safety. This industry-wide safety crisis is further intensified by
the labor shortage, adding to the instability, stress, and pressure
faced by in-store workers. 63% say that staffing shortages have
made it harder to keep their stores safe, and an alarming 72% have
experienced incidents in which staff couldn't respond to a threat
because their store was understaffed.
- In-store workers are feeling vulnerable and unsupported by
retail management as they navigate frontline pressures while seeing
glaring gaps in store safety measures. 62% of workers say they feel
ill-equipped to deal with difficult situations, and 51% rate their
store’s technology as only slightly or moderately effective.
- A majority of in-store workers think their store would be safer
if leadership solicited feedback from in-store workers, yet 23%
said they hadn’t been involved in any capacity in safety and
security planning for their store.
- Retail workers have identified what is becoming the new
standard for technology-enabled store safety measures, with 37%
spotting the need for discrete emergency alert systems and 31%
wanting communication devices with established code works for
emergency situations.
- In the face of industry-wide staffing shortages, retailers are
facing a potential mass exodus from workers over these safety and
staffing concerns. Along with escalating risks as employees
contemplate legal action over safety issues, this trend will rise
further if left unaddressed. 73% of retail workers are considering
leaving their jobs, and 64% would consider suing their employer
over a store crime incident.
“In-store workers are the backbone of the retail industry,
bringing the heart, soul, and connection that transforms customers
into loyal brand advocates,” said Chris Todd, CEO, Theatro. “This
survey exposes the dangers these frontline employees face daily as
they work tirelessly to keep our stores safe and secure, and
outlines a clear path for what the industry must do to
respond.”
Todd continued, “Ensuring employees feel safe, valued, and
protected is not just a moral obligation; it’s a business
imperative that drives customer satisfaction and loyalty. Now is
the time for retailers to prioritize training, communicate
proactively, and audit communication solutions and processes,
knowing that an investment in worker safety is an investment in the
organization’s long-term success.”
Visit the 2024 Retail Worker Safety Survey at
Theatro’s website for the complete survey results.
About Theatro
Theatro, pioneers of the first voice-enabled Mobile
Communication Platform, is driving Digital Transformation for the
hourly workforce with its powerful suite of Collaboration Apps and
Digital Workflows that deliver consistent and measurable results.
With its “Heads Up & Hands-Free” As-a-Service solution, Theatro
helps enterprises unlock their frontline’s full potential and
accelerate business success by enabling them to automate manual or
multi-step processes which improve productivity, operational
efficiency, employee engagement and the customer experience. For
more information, visit https://www.theatro.com.
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Breanne Ngo bngo@ideagrove.com