Retail worker wellbeing hits record lows in 2025, data finds
Retail Trust and AlixPartners’ Retail People Index found 49% of retail workers went to work feeling ill at the end of the year, up from 40% at the start.
Retail Trust and AlixPartners’ Retail People Index found worker wellbeing dropped from 61 to 57 in 2025.
Nearly half (49%) of workers went to work feeling ill at the end of the year, up from 40% at the start.
This was the highest level recorded since the wellbeing survey began nearly three years ago.
Flight risk rose to 56% in the last three months of 2025 compared to 47% at the start of the year.
Male retail staff were more likely to leave, with flight risk at 62%.
Additionally, research from Retail Trust found 43% of staff were abused or attacked every week last year, up 10% in 2024.
Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of Retail Trust, said: “Retail worker wellbeing failed to improve at any point throughout 2025, and there were also big increases in flight risk and the number of people working while unwell across the industry.
“Retailers cannot afford to see these measurements of wellbeing worsen or even remain the same this year.
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