Retail Trust launches anti-harassment initiative

The Retail Trust has partnered with law firm Foot Anstey’s retail and consumer team on a new initiative to support retailers in their efforts to foster safer working environments for employees.

It comes as the trust said that preventing harassment in the retail environment is becoming a “touchstone people and business issue”.

In light of this, it is now launching the Retailers Against Harassment certification, which has been created to combat the rise in harassment in the retail workplace. 

The certification programme is said to combine the experience, advisory skills and industry knowledge of both the trust and the law firm to help retailers protect their employees from harassment and support them when they encounter it.

Foot Anstey and the Retail Trust will work with participating retailers to review and improve the measures in place to protect workers and deal with any complaints of harassment. A certification will then be awarded to the retailer showing the actions it is taking to tackle abusive incidents.

This follows research by Foot Anstey which found nearly two-thirds (61%) of shop workers have experienced offensive behaviour at work since the pandemic, causing stress, anxiety and a loss of self-esteem. However, only 15% of retailers told the Retail Trust that they have raised awareness or implemented training to deal with the issue.

Nathan Peacey, head of Retail and Consumer at Foot Anstey, said: “Our study into harassment in retail presented some alarming results and left us wondering what more could be done to protect this group of key workers and help create safer working environments for retail workers.

“Responsible retailers are already aware of the problem and are working hard to address it, and this certification is an opportunity to gauge the efficacy of their actions and show their teams they are taking this issue seriously. The programme will help retailers to build on their current approach using our insight and legal know-how, and Retail Trust’s 190 years of industry experience.”

Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, added: “Violence towards shop workers remains a major problem facing the industry. We welcome any initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues, and helping retailers to protect their workers. Similarly we welcome new ways to evaluate the effectiveness of measures currently in place to protect colleagues.”

Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of the Retail Trust, concluded: “More and more people are turning to the Retail Trust because of the rising levels of abuse they are receiving in stores and call centres. This programme will help to give shop workers some of the clarity and reassurance they deserve by showing exactly what their employers are doing to protect them.

“The Retailers Against Harassment Certification recognises the important role that employers have to play in creating safer and happier workplaces for their staff, and we applaud any retailers that take part. We look forward to helping more people this year as we join forces with Foot Anstey to bring the industry together in tackling such a terrible issue.”