One in three Australian and New Zealand retail workers report feeling unsafe going into the peak holiday shopping season.
According to Motorola Solutions’ Australia and New Zealand Retail Woker Safety Report, 32 per cent of retail workers are worried about shoplifting, grab and runs, and hostile interactions, with a third thinking about quitting.
Martin Chappell, Managing Director of Motorola Solutions’ Asia Pacific channel sales, said this report reinforces the views of retail associations in Australia and New Zealand that more needs to be done to create a safer environment for retail workers and customers.
“As we approach peak shopping season, retail workers in Australia and New Zealand have clear concerns about potential crime and hostile interactions with customers, which can have harmful physical and mental impacts.”
The most common reported incidents were shoplifting (71 per cent), hostile customer interactions (51 per cent) and grab and runs (43 per cent). Retail staff also said they have experienced organised retail crime groups (20 per cent) and physical attacks from customers (16 per cent) in their stores.
“Retail workers and managers point to technologies they believe can help curb these issues – deterring theft, de-escalating confrontations with customers and simultaneously notifying security workers and authorities of emergencies. Our research shows that the right security measures can improve feelings of safety.”
Security technologies such as mobile safety apps, body cameras, and systems that can lock doors and allow store security officers to view real-time video of unfolding incidents can make people feel safer at work.
Body cameras are one tool that workers believe would help them feel safer, with 54 per cent of respondents agreeing with this statement, along with 47 per cent saying that body cameras can be a deterrent of aggressive or criminal behaviour in stores.
“The information gathered can help to guide the sector, industry leaders, policy makers and authorities in the strategies, investments and technology solutions needed to make our retail environments safer for all,” said Chappell.
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