Many retail associates and managers view safety incidents on the rise in their stores and that nearly two out of three workers are at least somewhat concerned for personal safety at work.
Those are findings from the Retail Workers Safety Report, released by Motorola Solutions. The data showed that petty theft, grab-and-run incidents and hostile customer interactions have increased heading into the holiday season, according to a press release.
"The holiday bustle can be a stressful time for retailers. Sales associates and managers shouldn't have to be concerned about their safety on top of everything else," Sharon Hong, vice president, Ecosystem Solutions at Motorola Solutions, said in the release. "Our report found that retail workers are looking for more technology that can help them be better aware of safety threats, spot illicit activity and communicate quickly and seamlessly with other employees and first responders should an incident arise."
Additional findings include:
- Low-tech communication channels are still heavily relied upon during store emergencies: Retail workers and managers said they access landline telephones (58%) and PA systems (45%) to report store safety concerns while nearly one-third (28%) would rely on yelling to inform coworkers of an incident. These methods do not often enable a quick connection with public safety officials should store employees need immediate help.
- Technology can play a meaningful role in increasing retail workers' feelings of safety: Respondents said their stores currently feature video security systems (76%), alarm systems (64%), and merchandise sensors (44%), but that additional technologies would make them feel safer such as artificial intelligence (AI) to detect guns (42%), access control systems to lock doors when threats are detected (36%), wearable/mounted panic buttons to alert for help (30%) and license plate readers to identify vehicles associated with criminal activity (30%).
- Some retailers are updating their safety and security protocols to support preparedness: Respondents reported progress in terms of preparedness and awareness. About one-third (36%) said their employer has introduced a new worker safety measure in the past 12 months, with top changes including increased emergency response training (49%), more timely communication about in-store incidents (41%) and additional security personnel (33%).
- Retail workers who feel safer stay longer: One in four (26%) respondents said they have considered leaving retail due to safety concerns. Retailers who invest in store safety and security measures are more likely to build employee morale and retention.
The report involved a survey conducted by independent market research firm Researchscape polling more than 1,000 retail store associates and managers in November 2023.