As the festive rush begins, retail property operator Landsec has joined forces with retail industry charity, The Retail Trust, to take a stand against rising abuse towards retail workers, with dedicated free training to help colleagues manage difficult interactions.
Through the charity’s new Let’s Respect Retail campaign, the partnership is rolling out practical training across four major Landsec shopping destinations - Trinity Leeds, White Rose, Westgate Oxford and Southside - offering over 13,500 retail staff the tools and confidence to handle challenging interactions and recover after difficult moments on the shop floor.
The partnership comes as new research from the trust shows that over three quarters (77%) of shop staff have experienced intimidating behaviour in the last year, and just under a quarter (23%) were actually physically assaulted, with close to half (43%) saying they’re being abused or attacked every week.
To amplify the message, the Let’s Respect Retail campaign took over Landsec’s Piccadilly Lights on Black Friday (28 November) to broadcast the smiles of respect from shop workers, members of the public and industry leaders on the iconic advertising screen. The visual spreads the message that simple measures of respect such as a hello, thank you or smile can help restore humanity to the high street.
Bruce Findlay, managing director for retail at Landsec, said: “Retail workers are the heartbeat of our industry, keeping shops running day in, day out. Yet too many face hostility - simply for doing their jobs.
“With a leading retail platform that spans the UK, we have a responsibility to support the thousands who work in our centres and contribute so much, both to their local communities and the success of our places. This campaign is about creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.
“Whether through practical measures like training or small gestures of kindness, the Retail Trust’s campaign reminds us that everyone has a role to play. It’s in everyone’s interests to protect retail workers - when they feel supported and valued, it creates better customer experiences, stronger brand performance and thriving retail destinations.”
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