Employee Perceptions of Workplace Safety

Understanding employee perceptions of workplace safety is crucial for employers to create a secure and supportive environment for their staff. In the retail sector, where interactions with customers are frequent, it's clear that employees have personal safety concerns that are not being addressed.

90% of retail workers – and 95% of managers – have been abused at work

63% say customer abuse has made them feel stressed or anxious about going to work

57% of employers underestimate the level of safety concern among staff

*https://www.shponline.co.uk/workplace-violence/90-of-retail-workers-have-been-abused-by-customers-and-a-charity-is-calling-for-action

The Impact on Recruitment and Retention

As retail businesses across the UK face increased pressure on recruitment and retention, employee safety, including perceptions around safety and employee peace of mind, are very real obstacles in these areas.

Although many UK businesses want to do more to protect their employees, almost half are struggling to understand how they can help.

Across convenience stores alone, £339 million has been invested in crime prevention in the past 12 months, with each store spending £6,838 on crime prevention measures, on average. The principal areas of investment are CCTV, security staff and staff training on crime management.

What crime prevention measure(s) do you have in place? Select all that apply

Security Guards
CCTV
Intruder Alarms
Personal Safety Devices / Apps
Facial Recognition
Other
None

Through our own research into employee safety concerns, we found that despite investment across the sector, two in three employees say there are one or more safety mitigation options that are not available to them that their employer should implement. Typically, these included a buddy system or regular checking in protocols. Employees also tended to support the introduction of solutions that let other people know if they are at risk and alert an emergency response, such as an employee safety service.

In our survey, two thirds of employees questioned said they would take up a personal safety solution if offered and 50% of them would consider a more front-line role if equipped with safety tech.

Employees typically supported the introduction of safety solutions such as an employee safety service

Two thirds of employees said they would take up a personal safety solution if offered

50% of employees would consider a more front-line role if equipped with safety tech

This suggests that the pool of candidates for any retail role could measurably increase with personal safety technology built into a job offer or role.

The Impact on Mental Health

The impact of feeling unsafe extends beyond the moment that the incident occurs. When employees regularly have fears for their safety, whether physical or emotional, it takes a toll on their mental health.

Employees who feel unsafe or anxious are likely to experience decreased focus, heightened stress levels, and lowered job satisfaction. As a result, their productivity and morale may suffer.

Businesses must recognise this direct correlation between employee wellbeing and overall business performance. Mark Wood, UK Security and Standards Manager at Pret a Manger, explains how they view this approach: “We believe that happy teams mean happy customers.”

However, by investing in resources that improve employee mental health and feelings of safety, employers can gain improved morale, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and overall boosted business success.

According to Deloitte, for every £1 spent invested in the mental health of employees, there's a return of £5 in terms of improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.