Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2016 - 42

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Retailers should ensure
the same excellent
experience for their
employees as they do
for their customers.
BY SONNY BR AR,
National Health and Safety Manager,
Toys R Us Canada
IN retail there are many synergies, regardless

SALES
FLOOR
VS BACK
ROOM

of what retailer you work for. Within my career
spanning the past 14 years, I've been privileged to have worked for large bricks-and-mortar retailers in a Health and Safety capacity.
One consistency that I have often seen in my
tenure is the difference between the sales floor
and the back room. I can confidently say that
one of the primary focuses for retailers is to ensure that customers have the best experience
in their Stores. This includes providing excellent customer service, ease of shopping, great
prices, friendly and helpful staff and, of course,
good housekeeping.
Most retailers and their operations teams
will push, promote and drive housekeeping,
cleanliness, clean floors, clear aisles, dusted
and cleaned shelves and a clean and organized entrance. However, what I have found
interesting is that sometimes that mindset
changes when you go through the "employees
only" door which leads you to...the back room.
Yes, the back room. Sometimes, you may
see piled up boxes and merchandise, egress
routes blocked with no clear pathways, marks
and scuffs on the wall, trip and slip hazards on
the floor, trash by the compactor that needs to
be thrown out, the loose shelf that everyone
walks past and does nothing about, and at times heavy dust
on equipment and machinery, which takes me to my point of
pride. The same type of commitment, passion and awareness
we have on the sales floor, should be transferrable to the back
room. This sense of "Well, customers don't come back here, so it
doesn't have to be very clean and organized" should not be the
way retailers think or train their employees. The same mentality must be employed in the back room as it is on the sales floor.
Floors and aisles cleared so employees can travel and work in
the back room safely. Did you know that 51 per cent of all injuries in Canada are sprains and strains? That means more than
half of Canadians that get injured suffer back, sprain and strain
pains. These can be avoided by ensuring that simple housekeeping fundamentals in place.

"We all care about our employees.
It is our moral duty to ensure that
staff and break rooms are cleaned
regularly. This includes microwaves
and fridges so employees can enjoy
a nice break in a clean staff room."

42 |

CANADIAN RETAILER | The Loss Prevention Issue

We all care about our employees. It is our
moral duty to ensure that staff and break
rooms are cleaned regularly. This includes
microwaves and fridges so employees can
enjoy a nice break in a clean staff room. And,
I don't need to mention the importance of employee morale and engagement. It is very important and it is crucial, that the same focus
retailers place on a great customer experience is placed on ensuring a great employee
experience as well. After all, employees-our
people-are every retailers' biggest asset.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2016