It’s easy to focus on financial loss when thinking about retail theft. While declining profits are important, we must also focus on another part of the picture: employee safety. Especially for small businesses, employees can feel scared or helpless in the face of theft, fearing for their safety.
Small business employees cite being held up at gunpoint and robbed. Or, they watch shoplifters steal and walk out without any fear of repercussion. In a 2023 survey on Violence in the Retail Workplace, 60% of employees reported witnessing an incident of violence in the past year.
With small retailers lacking the vital resources to catch and deter theft, employees are put in direct danger. This can take a significant toll on a business, including:
Psychological stress: Constant exposure to danger and theft can cause lasting psychological damage on small businesses
High turnover: Workers may quit in search of a safer working environment, leading to increased strains on operations
Increased costs: Businesses may have to settle claims, treat employee injuries, and add resource-intensive security measures
Decreased productivity: Employees may lose morale, leading to lower productivity and performance
Small businesses often lack the security features of big-box retailers. We need a new way of safeguarding our vital employees and protecting small retailers; Guardis AI is here to help.