Retail People Index

A snapshot into the wellbeing of the sector, powered by extensive data from our happiness dashboard, as well as our happiness assessment which is delivered with WorkL.

The Retail People Index is critical reading for the industry as it provides data-driven insights into employee wellbeing, linking it to business performance, retention, and productivity. Understanding these factors is essential for retailers to stay competitive, reduce costs related to turnover and absenteeism, and create a healthier, happier, more engaged workforce.

Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: “The festive period always brings added pressures for retail workers but there was a noticeable increase in the number of people suffering last Christmas compared to the year before. We must put some of this down to the economic uncertainty facing the country and retail jobs in particular following the tax rises announced in last autumn’s budget. It remains to be seen whether wellbeing will improve this spring, as it did last year, or if insecurities around jobs, finances and the political climate will continue to take their toll on employees’ physical and mental health. Either way, it’s clear that employers need to ensure staff have the right resources and reassurance to recover and rebuild their resilience following a difficult autumn and winter.”

Laura Bond, director of AlixPartners, said: “Retailers are facing into a perfect storm, with squeezed discretionary consumer spending, higher business rates, rising National Insurance contributions, and a rise in the national minimum wage all either continuing or about to bite. As our Index shows, the uncertainty that this is creating is a key contributor to the decline in confidence of the people that work within retail, which in turn impacts business performance. In the wake of the Government’s Spring Statement, business leaders have an opportunity to address uncertainty felt across the industry and engage with their teams. Employee engagement has never been more vital for those looking to drive retention, and in turn, growth and greater resilience.”

The index will also delve into flight risk, and wellbeing and presenteeism indicators to highlight the further potential impact disengaged colleagues have on a business.

Retail People Index - April 2025

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