More than four in ten retail workers in the US are likely to leave their current job in the next 12 months over safety concerns. Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.

A joint study by the US Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) and Verkada indicates a significant portion of retail employees in the US are contemplating leaving their positions within the year, citing concerns for personal safety as the primary reason. 

The collaborative report is titled State of Retail Safety. It outlines the difficulties retail staff face and suggests strategies for employers to mitigate these issues. 

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The report highlights that 27% of retail employees do not feel secure at their workplace. Their anxiety is not without merit, as 54% have faced aggressive or harassing behaviour from customers.  

Despite these ongoing risks, 22% indicate that their workplaces have little to no security measures in place, and 62% have observed no changes in security protocols since the end of 2023.

This environment has consequences for staff retention and recruitment. Almost 20% of retail employees have pondered a job change due to safety worries, with 40% likely to resign within 12 months.

Store managers acknowledge that safety concerns are complicating recruitment efforts, with 37% recognising them as a hiring obstacle. 

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Employees felt that enhanced security could improve their sense of safety, with 71% of respondents who have experienced workplace violence indicating it would make a difference. They also suggest that incidents such as theft, robbery and physical assault might have been preventable with better security measures in place. 

However, the respondents do not believe simply increasing security measures to be a comprehensive solution, and stress the need for improved systems for reporting incidents to law enforcement.  

Only 52% of employers consistently report violent episodes, and this figure drops to 44% when it involves witnessing violence against colleagues. 

Loss Prevention Research Council executive director Dr Read Hayes stated: “Retail is a cornerstone of the economy, supporting one in four American jobs. The unfortunate reality is that today, retail workers are being asked to shoulder unacceptable risks every time they clock into work.  

“This research provides a sobering snapshot of that reality and builds on the Loss Prevention Research Council’s ongoing work to provide a roadmap for how retailers can better protect their employees and merchandise, and importantly, create safer work environments.”