Co-op staff report safety fears over lone working

Co-op staff have warned that the supermarket is endangering their safety by leaving too few workers on duty, with some reporting threats while working alone, according to a report by The Guardian.

Despite a rise in shoplifting, employees in smaller stores said they are sometimes the only person available to pack online orders and oversee self-checkouts and tills. In larger outlets, staff may also be left alone when colleagues take breaks or handle deliveries.

Concerns have intensified as the Co-op expands Project Lunar, a scheme that introduces lone working in quieter stores. After trials in five locations last year, the initiative is being extended to 60 branches.

In addition to Project Lunar, a separate “one-on-one” model already operates in many outlets. Under this system, one employee is responsible for shelf stacking or stockroom duties while the other manages the till, often as the only public-facing worker. 

However, it is understood that the Co-op declined to confirm how many stores use this arrangement.

In light of this, more than 3,000 customers have backed a campaign urging the Co-op to abandon lone working, saying they have seen staff struggling to cope. Honor Barber, a campaigner at Organise, said a survey of Co-op workers found over 80% felt unsafe due to short-staffing. 

Barber said: “The Co-op reported a 35% jump in underlying profit to £131m in April, with revenue steady at £11.3bn in 2024. Meanwhile, workers are being stretched to breaking point. Co-op is prioritising profit over staff and customer safety.”

Barber also said staff were dealing with the effects of a cyber-attack that had left many stores short of stock and reliant on manual processes, without adequate staffing. 

The retailer told The Guardian that over 90% of staff hours were not one-on-one, and Project Lunar stores ensured workers weren’t alone during deliveries or peak times. However, some employees reported being left alone due to workload. The Co-op invested £240m in safety measures over five years, four times the sector average per store.

A Co-op spokesperson told Retail Sector: “Co-op is committed to serving and supporting our communities, providing good value prices, excellent promotions and quality products for all of our members and customers. Alongside a rewarding and safe working environment for our colleagues across all our stores. Co-op has been at the forefront of campaigning for a crackdown on retail crime, investing in the very latest security measures, with the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues as our clear priority.”