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NEWS WELLBEING CONCERNS FOR RETAIL WORKERS DURING COVID-19 The health and wellbeing struggles of Australia’s second largest workforce as they battle COVID-19 are detailed in a National Retail Association (NRA) report. Australia’s 1.5 million retail workers have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, says the NRA, weathering increased risk, stress and abuse. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb says the report, ‘Health and Wellbeing of Australian Retail Workers’, reveals the challenges of retail workers during the pandemic and the need to classify them as frontline essential workers. “The retail sector is the second largest workforce in Australia and contributes $329 billion to the economy each year,” she said. “Australia’s 1.5 million retail workers have battled an unprecedented set of challenges during the pandemic. Feedback from our members is that they’re suffering high levels of stress and anxiety, leading to mental health issues and an increase in poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking. “We’d like to see the government recognise retailers as an essential frontline service and implement a ‘retail resilience program’ to educate workers on how to cope during the pandemic. Areas that require urgent attention include mental health issues, high smoking rates and exposure to violent crime at work.” The report also revealed the need to address issues affecting retail workers such as customer abuse, retail crime, domestic and family violence, and poor lifestyle choices. “The NRA’s 28,000 membership base has relayed to us the dramatic rise in workplace safety issues,” Ms Lamb said. “Some retailers have reported up to a 400 per cent increase in aggression and abuse following customer anger at retail restrictions. “Retail workers are also experiencing increased retail crime and related violence, with over 85 per cent experiencing verbal or physical abuse while trying to prevent crime. Many business owners have been forced to employ security guards and crowd controllers to ensure social distancing measures are followed. “The NRA also takes very seriously its commitment to women, who make up 55 per cent of the retail workforce. That’s why we’ve outlined in our report policies to support the 100,000 retail workers who are currently experiencing domestic and family violence. “We’d also like to see measures that assist retail staff in making better lifestyle choices. This includes combatting the alarmingly high rate of smoking among retail employees by exploring nicotine-based smoke-free alternatives that help transition people away from traditional cigarettes.” AUSSIES STILL SHOW UP AT WORK WITH FLU SYMPTOMS New research reveals that 70 per cent of surveyed Australians would present to work with cold or flu symptoms. The findings come from an independent survey – conducted in June this year – of a nationally representative panel of 1,000 Australian employees, commissioned by anti-viral cleaning company Cleancorp. The Australian government has told Australians to stay home and get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones. The Cleancorp research, however, found that 54 per cent of respondents would present to work with a headache. Although a stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat, tingly throat, or fatigue could be early symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, an equal 38 per cent of respondents said they would still go into the office with these symptoms. Thirty-two per cent would present to work with a cough, 22 per cent would do so with a stomach ache, and 20 per cent would go in with muscle or body aches and chills. It seems that under-30s would be more likely to present to work with cold or flu symptoms. Forty-seven per cent would do so with a sore or tingly throat, 46 per cent with a runny or stuffy nose, 40 per cent with a cough, 27 per with a stomach ache, and 18 per cent with nausea – all higher proportions than the total respondent average. The most common response when asked why those feeling unwell would still present themselves at work is ‘the symptoms are not serious enough to justify taking time off work’ (58 per cent of respondents). Forty-two per cent say it’s because they would have too much on at work, with no one else able to do their job. Twenty-nine per cent think their employer won’t regard their symptoms as serious enough, while 24 per cent don’t want to use up their sick leave or say they will have pressure from their employer to present to work. The survey results, says Cleancorp, highlight an issue concerning casual and contract workers, who do not receive payment for sick or annual leave. Twenty-one per cent of survey respondents admit they would present to work with cold or flu symptoms because they cannot afford not to be paid. With more than 2.6 million casual workers in Australia, says Cleancorp, this indicates that 546,000 casual workers would present to work with symptoms. AUG, 2020 RETAIL WORLD 15