The Impact of Personal Safety Concerns
New research shows that 1 in 4 people left a job in the last five years because of safety concerns.
Over half of the workers surveyed had experienced a negative event at work or on their commute that made them concerned for their safety.
Not only are people concerned about their safety, but most people have been put in a specific situation that has made them feel unsafe when working.
Industries that are struggling the most to keep hold of their staff and attract new talent are those with predominantly public facing and front line roles such as retail and hospitality as well as healthcare.
would not consider a public facing role because of personal safety concerns
Addressing personal safety concerns can help government and businesses to reverse the exit of talent taking place in front line sectors. Without it, there will be a constant barrier that must be overcome in the minds of candidates and existing employees that businesses must fight against through other means.
Hannah regularly visits clients’ homes, workplaces and public buildings. She recalls feeling naïve towards personal safety at work before a particular incident where an aggressive client locked her in their house.
“I was very nervous about going to people’s houses after that. It made me feel like I needed that support, for people to be able to check in and know where I was.”
She now experiences anxiety meeting new clients, entering potentially volatile situations and feels that safety is a constant burden. Preplanning her escape routes and having protective equipment are now central to her role.
It is well-documented that better worker satisfaction and wellbeing is related to higher rates of productivity.
Employees that have experienced feeling unsafe at, or on their way to work, are less satisfied in their job.
Based on this research, there is an argument to suggest that companies could be increasing retention rates without increasing salaries simply by bolstering employee’s feelings of safety.
Staff who suffer negative events at work are more likely to leave. The average annual attrition rate is 13% and when it costs £3,000 to fill a role, bringing this number down really matters.
Employee absence has huge financial implications. Over 11 million work days a year are lost due to employee stress, for which safety is a key contributor.
Employee safety, including perceptions around safety and employee peace of mind, are very real barriers to front line roles.
One in four employees surveyed said they would be unhappy to take a role that involved face-to-face contact with the general public effectively shrinking the talent pool by a quarter.
A bad reputation can have a significant impact on recruitment. What people are saying about your company on review sites and forums is often the first impression potential employees get of your business.
Negative employee experiences is one of the biggest factors that can have a detrimental effect on brand reputation.
