Today, when you enter a brick-and-mortar retailer, you’ll see front-line employees greeting customers and stocking merchandise. What you won’t see, however, are their fears of an
Do retail employees feel safe at work?
The short answer: not really. A 2024 survey of 600 retail employees found that 80 percent don’t feel protected while on the job. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) said staffing shortages have made their workplace feel less safe. Employees frequently report aggressive customers, incidents of shoplifting and organized retail crime, and not having enough employees on the floor during a busy shift, especially during the busy holiday season.
Do they feel their employers care?
Workers report that their employers say employee safety is a priority—for example, suggesting employees ignore incidents of organized retail crime or deter theft on the floor by repeatedly checking in with customers—but their employers lack follow-through. In 2022, the AlertMedia Employee Safety Report found that 90 percent of employees believe their employer has a duty of care, but only about half said their company has actually stepped up safety efforts.
In retail specifically, employees often question whether their leaders are making the right investments. More than half of workers (55 percent) in the 2024 safety survey said retailers should do more to keep them safe, and two-thirds said they lacked confidence that their employer was investing in technology to request help quickly.
For many employees, that trust is directly tied to whether they stay in their jobs.
Do employees have the tools to de-escalate threats?
Employees feel safety and de-escalation training is unevenly applied, and workers feel ill-equipped to deal with challenging situations or aggressive customers. What’s worse, the AlertMedia report says less than half (48 percent) of employees strongly agree that their employer informs them of safety policies and procedures, especially when they’ve been updated.
The tools they do have at their disposal fall down on the job: Half of retail workers rated their store’s safety technology, like cameras, asset protection devices, and security systems as only “slightly” or “moderately” effective.
The bottom line
Whether it’s a teenager working their first fast-food job, or a career salesperson in a luxury retail boutique, retail workers invest their time and energy to drive the retailer’s bottom line—and retailers need to hold up their end of the bargain.
Employees deserve additional staff coverage, reliable communication tools, and regular training on de-escalation techniques; these are concrete actions that demonstrate to employees that their companies care about their safety and well-being. Meeting those needs can reduce turnover, boost morale, and ultimately improve same-store performance.
How can Wachter improve employee safety?
Let this eye-opening reporting on employee safety be a source of inspiration for how you can improve your employee experience. Talk to a Wachter solutions engineer about how our physical security solutions, AV, structured cabling services, and 24/7 monitoring and support will safeguard and assure employees and customers.