More than three-quarters of retail workers across Australia have experienced stress, anxiety or depression in the past four weeks as retail crime and cost-of-living pressures mount.
A survey by the Australian Retailers Association also found that 49% of respondents have been physically assaulted or harassed while working, with 36% saying their mental health has not improved send the pandemic ended.
34% of respondents say retail crime is affecting their team’s mental health, while 45% of respondents need more support to manage mental health issues.
An overview of crime statistics across Australia indicate that retail crimes such as theft has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
In New South Wales, Bureau of Crimes Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) reported that retail theft steadily increased from 2014 to 2019, which fell sharply as the pandemic hit in 2020.
“This was particularly the case during the lockdown periods, but retail theft was also much lower than normal between lockdowns,” a spokesperson for BOCSAR told Ragtrader.
“Retail theft started to increase in 2022 but was still well below pre-pandemic levels for most of the year.”
More recently, retail theft increased by 37.8% per year on average in the two years to March 2023 in NSW. However, BOCSAR data also shows that - at least up to March 2023 - retail theft is equivalent with pre-pandemic levels and not higher.
“The large increase in retail theft reflects the sharp fall in crime during the pandemic and the return to pre-pandemic levels from late 2022 - which is where it currently sits.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), ‘other thefts’ occurring at a retail location increased for the second straight year in 2022 - by 28,358 victims or 17%.
However, the ABS noted the number of victims of ‘other theft’ remained lower for retail locations than 2019 (218,435 victims), prior to when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.
Retail spaces remain the most common location for ‘other theft’ at 42% in 2022 - or 197,970 victims. Residential locations are the second highest at 29% or 136,091 victims.
Overall, there were 475,725 victims of ‘other theft’ recorded in Australia in 2022, an increase of 8% from 2021.
The largest state contributors to the increase were Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, up 13%, 10% and 9% respectively - or 14,015 victims, 8,992 vicitims, and 5,995 victims.
The Australian Capital Territory was the only state or territory to have a decrease in victim numbers - down 593 victims or 8%.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said it is one of the most challenging times for the sector in recent history.
“The cost-of-living crisis, the cost of doing business crisis and the fear of being assaulted or abused at work is having a detrimental effect on the mental health and stress levels of retail workers,” Zahra said.
“This isn’t a battle that retailers can fight alone. Almost half of our respondents say they need more help to manage mental health issues in their workplace.
“Retailers are at the coalface of the post-pandemic economic crisis, but they’re also shouldering the social ramifications such as the increase in violent and anti-social behaviour.”
In wake of the findings, the ARA is urging state and federal governments to provide more tools and support to help businesses combat the rise of mental health issues in the workplace.
The ARA also noted that retail is the fourth highest industry lodging workers compensation claims for mental health as recorded by Safe Work Australia.
Retail also had the sixth highest amount of compensation claims for 2020-2021 at 8,986.
“The rise of workplace mental health claims is another significant and increasing cost to businesses,” Zahra added.
The ARA will host an upcoming webinar to help retailers address mental health, discussing the effects of high stress, burnout, challenging financial situations and the relationship to anxiety and depression.