2020 HEALTH OF RETAIL REPORT

RESEARCH: RETAILTRUST

‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID MENTAL HEALTH STORM

THE RETAIL SECTOR HAS A ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY’ TO PREVENT AN INCOMING MENTALHEALTH STORM THAT COULD AFFECT MILLIONS OF WORKERS, SAYS RETAILTRUST.

The UK retail sector has a once in a lifetime opportunity to prevent a potential mental health storm that could impact millions of workers, says industry charity retailTRUST. On the eve of World MentalHealth Day (10 October) and ahead of National Work Life Week (12-16 October), retailTRUST launched its ‘2020 Health of Retail’ report which identifies a triumvirate of pandemicinduced stress and anxiousness facing UK retail workers.

1. Financial instability: this year so far 13,867 [BRC, 2019] shops have closed, up 24.8% on the same period last year and 125,000 retail jobs have been lost; the imminent end of the government’s Job Retention Scheme (31 October) and uncertainty around the Job Support Scheme, which is set to replace it, are all causing concern.

2. Uncertainty and the fear of the unknown: The Institute for Employment Studies reported 700,000 UK employees at risk of being made redundant in the second half of 2020.

3. Social disconnect: At home and at work caused by lockdown restrictions which have led directly to an increase in physical, verbal and racial assaults from customers and a ‘hero to zero’ change in public opinion about store workers.

“The retail industry is the second largest employer in the UK after the NHS, so the sector has a huge responsibility to come together during the most challenging period of retailTRUST’s 188-year history.“

“Socioeconomically, the pandemic has been linked with a host of hardships: isolation, bereavement, alcohol and drug use, domestic violence, financial strain and criminality,” saysretailTRUST Chief Medical Advisor Dr Adrian Massey who authored the 2020 Health of Retail Report.

“Surveys of mental wellbeing demonstrate widespread distress across the population. Demand for public services is acute and the abrupt decline in economic activity means government access to funding is constrained. Retail workers are especially exposed to Covid-19 related health and wealth risks and, if we are to minimise subsequent harm, we must pull together now to offer support.”

In light of the report, retailTRUST launched a nationwide #forthefour campaign a few days ago, calling on retail leaders to act now to protect the wellbeing of the industry’s 4.5 million-strong workforce. retailTRUST CEO Chris Brook-Carter says: “The retail industry is the second largest employer in the UK after the NHS, so the sector has a huge responsibility to come together during the most challenging period of retailTRUST’s 188-