December 17, 2024 | Mark Hudson

SHRM HR News ─ In a new bylined article, Bailey Whitsitt, Compliance Counsel at Traliant, discusses the increasing risk of workplace violence and harassments that retail workers face year round, but especially during the holiday season.  

While workplace safety should always be a priority, Whitsitt says the holiday season underscores the need for comprehensive safety plans and training. She points to a recent Traliant survey of over 500 full-time U.S. retail workers that finds Gen Z retail workers in particular witness higher rates of workplace violence compared to older generations and lack confidence in their ability to de-escalate violent situations. 

“Retailers face unique risks that they cannot change, but by addressing workplace violence with proactive policies, tailored training and supportive cultures, they can protect their most valuable assets — their employees — to significantly enhance employee safety. 

─ Bailey Whitsitt, Compliance Counsel at Traliant 

While California and New York have recently passed workplace violence prevention laws, Whitsitt said employers don’t need to wait for state legislation to implement workplace violence prevention measures to better enforce employee safety. The overall object of these measures should be to teach employees how to recognize early warning signs of violence, report concerns, de-escalate potentially dangerous situations and protect themselves in the event of a workplace violence emergency.  

Click here to read the full article.