The issues
Impacts of Covid-19 on Essential Workers
THE ISSUE
Retail workers have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, weathering increased risk, stress and abuse to keep Australia fed.
COVID-19 has exposed the critical importance of the retail industry and forced retail workers to face significant new challenges. These challenges include:
- Up to a 400% increase in aggression and abuse
- Facing greater personal health risk in order to provide Australia with the essentials we all require to live through COVID
- Retail workers are facing more risk, stress and abuse during COVID
Did you know? During the pandemic abuse of retail staff increased by as much as 400%
IMPACTS ON RETAIL WORKERS
These challenges have resulted in numerous negative impacts for retail workers.
- Retail workers are helping feed and supply the nation but at great personal risk for their and their family’s health and wellbeing.
- Retail workers continue to help feed and supply the nation but many are ineligible for COVID benefits.
- Retail workers are proud to serve their community during COVID but the impacts on their mental health and wellbeing from increased risk, stress and abuse are serious and potentially long-lasting.
WHAT'S NEEDED
To overcome these issues and address their negative impact the NRA submits that retail workers should be recognised by the government as frontline essential workers and provided the priority support they deserve.
The NRA recommends that retail workers receive funded assistance to manage immediate disruption and increase future resilience
Australians Want Change
In 2020, the National Retail Association performed research with over 20,000 Australians to gauge public support for initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of retail workers.
The study found that the majority of the Australian public agrees that leaders should consider supporting essential retail workers to a similar extent to sectors like healthcare.
Retail workers deserve more support reflective of their role at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, weathering increased risk, stress and abuse to keep Australia fed.
The National Retail Association is championing awareness and change to address issues impacting the health & wellbeing of retail workers.
Read about the other issues:
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