Theft, Crime Driving Retail Workers to Look for New Jobs

  • Dec 04, 2024

More than four in ten retail workers in the U.S. say they are likely to leave their current job in the next 12 months due to personal safety concerns, according to new research conducted by the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) in partnership with Verkada.

LPRC and Verkada's State of Retail Safety Report reveals the challenges facing retail workers and, importantly, offers a blueprint for employers tasked with addressing them.

  • Safety concerns are widespread, and workers report higher-ups aren't taking action: More than one in four (27%) retail workers reported feeling unsafe at work. Those fears aren't unfounded: more than half (54%) of retail workers experienced customer aggression or harassment. Despite these persistent threats, nearly one in four (22%) retail workers say their workplace has minimal to no security and 62% say that their company hasn't changed the level of security measures in the last 12 months.
  • These threats have a ripple effect on retention and hiring: Nearly twenty percent of retail workers report they have considered looking for a new job due to personal safety concerns, and they are motivated: 40% report they are likely to leave their current job in the next 12 months due to personal safety concerns. Retailers face hurdles when they're backfilling these roles, though: 37% of store managers agree that concerns about safety are a barrier to hiring.
  • Retail workers believe better security would help: Nearly three in four (71%) retail workers who have experienced some type of violence at work say they would feel safer with enhanced security measures. Those same respondents say that theft (77%), robbery (76%), and physical assaults (61%) could have been prevented had better security been in place.
  • But just increasing security isn't enough: Retail workers also need better mechanisms to report these threats to law enforcement. Only half (52%) of respondents always report violent incidents to police/law enforcement. The number drops even lower when asked about witnessing a coworker(s) experiencing physical violence, where only 44% reported to police or law enforcement.

"Retail is a cornerstone of the economy, supporting 1 in 4 American jobs. The unfortunate reality is that today, retail workers are being asked to shoulder unacceptable risks every time they clock into work," said Read Hayes, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Loss Prevention Research Council. "This research provides a sobering snapshot of that reality, and builds on the Loss Prevention Research Council's ongoing work to provide a roadmap for how retailers can better protect their employees and merchandise, and importantly, create safer work environments."

"Safety is a fundamental right, and we have a responsibility to protect the 55 million Americans who work in retail," said Alana O'Grady Lauk, Vice President of Public Affairs at Verkada. "This study underscores the importance of not only investing in security infrastructure but also creating a culture where retail workers feel valued, protected, and heard."

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