A recent study by the Retail Trust highlights concerning links between mental health issues and absenteeism in retail jobs, especially among younger workers and call center staff.
- Alarmingly, around 29% of employees born between 1997 and 2012 have missed work due to mental health challenges.
- Call center employees face a significant 31% absence rate attributable to mental health problems.
- Approximately 17% of retail workers have reported skipping work over the past year due to mental health concerns.
- Retail managers are observing increased absenteeism, with 49% recognizing mental health as a critical factor.
A comprehensive report released by the Retail Trust underscores the pressing need for employers in the retail sector to address workplace well-being. With alarming statistics indicating that nearly a third of retail call center employees and younger shop staff abstain from work due to mental health issues, the situation calls for immediate attention. Specifically, the study reveals that 29% of Generation Z employees have taken time off for mental health reasons, and this figure rises slightly to 31% among call center personnel. Furthermore, 17% of general retail workers have also reported taking leave due to mental health challenges over the past year.
Retail managers are increasingly aware of this issue, with 49% reporting higher absentee rates linked to mental health complications in the last 12 months. The weight of this problem was highlighted by a head of people in an outdoor retail organization, who remarked on the growing prevalence of long-term health issues stemming from mental health struggles. The manager noted that absenteeism not only affects the employees themselves but also impacts their colleagues and the organization’s financial performance. An HR director from a home and fashion retailer echoed these concerns, emphasizing absenteeism management as a priority and recognizing the ripple effect it has on organizational dynamics.
Worryingly, the Retail Trust study also found that mental health dilemmas are leading to compromised performance at work, with nearly three-quarters (71%) of retail workers admitting that these issues hinder their workplace productivity. According to Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of the Retail Trust, the retail sector, as the largest employment provider outside the public sector, faces significant challenges due to these findings. He underscores the necessity for employers to invest in training, provide a supportive work environment, and implement preventative tactics to address these mental health challenges. Although not directly responsible for causing such issues, employers must seek to mitigate absenteeism and performance drops by fostering positive work environments and reinforcing their employees’ mental health support mechanisms.
The Retail Trust’s findings point to an urgent call for employers to invest in mental health initiatives to support staff well-being and tackle absenteeism effectively.
