Retailers across Australia are making major investments in creating safer workplaces in the face of significant industry challenges, especially in response to the surge in retail crime.
Australian Retailers Association CEO Chris Rodwell says workplace wellbeing and psychosocial safety is a top priority for retailers.
“The retail community is determined to ensure people are safe at work. While efforts are being made across a range of areas, it’s clear the levels of retail crime present far and away the biggest risk to workers. As a result, retailers are investing heavily in training programs around customer aggression, frontline safety and, where possible, in workplace redesign,” he said.
“These efforts need to be better supported. There is a fundamental role for the Federal Government in co-ordinating a national response to retail crime, with the full engagement of state and territory governments. This should also include training support for small and mid-sized retailers to help equip their teams with the skills to manage difficult situations,” he added.
The ARA and National Retail Association (NRA) work closely with a range of stakeholders to address safety and psychosocial risks, including government, workplace health and safety regulators, labour unions, researchers and the tripartite Retail Employee Safety Council (RESC).
Mr Rodwell says it’s critical these efforts are collaborative to ensure the 1.4 million people working in retail are supported.
“That’s why we’re disappointed that the union movement, in its latest report, is more focussed on the role of technology in the workplace rather than the impacts that retail crime and acts of violence and aggression are having on the health and safety of retail workers,” he said.
“Disappointingly, the union response is to add yet further red tape and regulation to try and resolve the challenges, adding to the cost and complexity of business. Australian retailers are already held to a high standard on how they operate their work environments. While it is critical they meet their legal obligations, they also need the capacity to invest in new technologies in a responsible way to stay competitive.”
Together, the ARA and NRA are supporting further research into psychosocial safety to inform future approaches. Later this year, they will host retailers from around the country to hear from industry experts in the space, leading academics, and mental health professionals. “We remain committed to working with all stakeholders, including the union movement, to address this challenge,” Mr Rodwell said.
