Almost half of Generation Z retail employees would only report workplace violence if they could do so anonymously, according to a new survey by compliance training firm Traliant. The survey of over 500 full-time U.S. retail workers found significant generational differences in attitudes toward reporting unsafe situations and experiences with workplace violence.
The study, titled The Retail Report: Traliant’s 2024 Workplace Violence Prevention Pulse Survey, found that 49 per cent of Gen Z retail workers said they would only report a scenario where they feared for their own or a co-worker’s safety if they could do so anonymously. In contrast, only 19 per cent of Baby Boomers expressed the same preference.
Moreover, more than a third (38 per cent) of Gen Z retail workers reported witnessing workplace violence against another employee in the last five years, compared to 13 per cent of Baby Boomers, 20 per cent of Gen X, and 22 per cent of Millennials.
“The retail industry is a challenging space as employees are at higher risk for workplace violence and employers have a growing list of requirements to contend with when it comes to keeping their workers safe,” said Michael Johnson, chief strategy officer at Traliant.
The survey also found that only 38 per cent of retail workers feel their employers are extremely supportive in promoting a speak-up culture where employees can report misconduct without fear of retaliation. While 78 per cent of Baby Boomers said they would report a scenario where they feared for their own or a co-worker’s safety without being anonymous, only 42 per cent of Gen Z respondents said they would attach their name to a report.
With workplace violence continuing to pose a major threat across industries, federal and state governments are starting to take action. New York recently signed the Retail Worker Safety Act, requiring employers with more than ten retail employees in the state to implement a workplace violence prevention policy and conduct annual training by March 2025. The survey indicated strong support for similar measures, with 94 per cent of retail workers agreeing that other states should adopt policies like New York’s act.
“With the state-led momentum we’re seeing for workplace violence prevention legislation, the expectation for other U.S. states to follow is no longer an ‘if’ but a ‘when,'” said Bailey Whitsitt, compliance counsel at Traliant. “Prevention training is a core tenet of a strong workplace violence prevention strategy that not only helps retailers stay ahead of potential legal requirements but creates safer workplaces by educating employees on critical awareness topics and skills to navigate challenging situations in their everyday roles.”
The survey underscores the importance for employers to understand generational differences in the workforce to enhance workplace violence prevention programs and create safer work environments.
The independent market research firm Researchscape conducted the survey in October 2024. Respondents were 528 U.S. retail workers from organizations with more than 100 employees.
