Three-quarters of retail staff feel they are unable to perform at their best due to surging levels of anxiety, according to a new study from the Retail Trust.
Retailers are being urged to improve workplace wellbeing as instances of poor mental health are causing a third of retail call centre staff and 29% of Gen Z workers to take time off work, according to a new study by the Retail Trust.
The survey, conducted with more than 1,300 retail workers, found that 17% had taken at least one day off work this year due to poor mental health, with younger staff and call centre employees more than twice as likely to have called in sick.
More mental health training, improving workplace culture and providing staff with more self-help tools to manage and measure staff wellbeing are some of the Retail Trust’s recommendations.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: “Retail is the largest employer outside the public sector, so these findings have profound implications for the UK workforce.
“Many retailers are already taking important steps to address poor mental wellbeing within their organisations, but more clearly still needs to be done and especially for those most affected, like younger workers and call centre staff.
“While retail employers may not be responsible for causing their staff’s mental health issues, they are paying the price in absenteeism and underperformance.
“They must continue to invest in training, create more positive work cultures and implement preventative measures to mitigate the mental health challenges their workers face.”
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