Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season, Retail Workers Worry About Their Safety
A majority of U.S. retail workers (57%) report feeling unsafe going into the peak holiday shopping season, according to Motorola Solutions’ second annual U.S. Retail Worker Safety Report. This is understandable, as many of the 1,000+ retail managers and staff surveyed said they have experienced increases in various forms of crime in the last year, and more than half reported concerns about hostile customer interactions and store theft.
The independent market research firm Researchscape conducted the U.S. survey in September 2024 to gauge retail workers’ perspectives about safety and workplace security measures. The results show that security technologies—systems that can detect weapons, lock doors, and allow store security officers to view real-time video of unfolding incidents—make people feel safer at work. Similar independent surveys were conducted in the U.K. and in Australia and New Zealand, countries also dealing with high retail crime rates.
“As we approach peak shopping season, it’s clear that the retail industry continues to grapple with theft and, at times, even more violent crimes,” said Sharon Hong, vice president of Ecosystem Solutions at Motorola Solutions. “Retail workers and managers surveyed believe technology can play a role in helping to curb the issue, from deterring theft to de-escalating hostile customer interactions. Technology can also simultaneously notify everyone, including 9-1-1, of an emergency, quickly and efficiently connecting those in need with those that can help.”
Key findings in the U.S. report:
Retail crime is on the rise: Many retail managers and staff surveyed said they have experienced increases in various forms of crime in their stores in the past year. The most common incidents reported were petty theft (66%), grab and runs (48%), and hostile customer interactions (46%). One in 10 also said they have experienced physical attacks from customers.
Holiday understaffing is causing safety concerns: Over 65% of retail workers