5 Tips for Making a Retail Environment Accessible for Employees
After working in retail for over ten years, I’ve been part of more than one business taking steps to become more accessible. From increasing the width of aisles to installing hearing loops (see also: audio induction loop), I’ve watched customers go from finding shopping stressful to actually enjoying the experience.
However, my superiors weren’t giving the same care to their employees. It wasn’t until I became unwell that I realised I’ve never worked somewhere that actively tried to make the workplace more inclusive and disability-friendly for its staff.
When my chronic illness started in March 2020, it became apparent that my employer wasn’t willing to make alternative arrangements. I’d have understood if I was asking for six months off at a time, but I just needed slightly more flexible working hours.
Some people I’ve spoken to think even that was too much to ask, but it would’ve helped me manage my job better, and I would’ve ended up taking less time off work.
After being dismissed in January 2021, I researched how retail workplaces can be more inclusive towards staff. Unfortunately, while the internet delivers plenty of good results on making shops more accessible for customers (as it should), results usually tell disabled/chronically ill individuals to stay clear of working in retail.
However, it depends on the individual. One person living with Fibromyalgia might be able to stand for hours in a high-pressure environment; another might not. To paint everyone in the community with the same brush is not only unfair, but it’s also wrong.
Unsplash. A large shopping centre, full of people, the shot is of 4 escalators leading to the next floor, taken from the middle floor.
So how exactly can you be an inclusive and disability-friendly workplace?
Here are five tips to make a retail environment accessible for employees:
1. Remove physical barriers.
One of the easiest ways to make somewhere accessible is to remove physical barriers. Clearing walkways in stock rooms and break areas, installing automatic openers/hinges on doors, ensuring there’s parking available for disabled employees, and providing accessible washrooms are all ways to help someone with a movement disability.
2. Install assistive technologies.
Equipment such as speech recognition software, braille keyboards/shop displays, sign language apps, etc., all help empower staff and make an environment more inclusive — and this isn’t an exhaustive list. Just make sure to keep these technologies up to date!
3. Consider flexible work patterns.
Unfortunately, sometimes no matter how accessible your workplace is, it isn’t enough. Consider flexible start/finish times, an alteration in work hours or (where possible) working from home arrangements — this ensures your employees have plenty of options available and could significantly reduce time off.
4. Provide staff training.
Don’t fall into the trap of accommodating employees with chronic illnesses/disabilities and leaving them to it — it isn’t as simple as that! Training every staff member, educating them on different forms of disabilities (visible and invisible), etc., shows a tremendous amount of support and 100% encourages inclusivity!
5. TALK TO YOUR EMPLOYEES!
Please speak to your disabled/chronically ill staff members! There’s no one better qualified to tell you what they need! Everyone’s needs are different, and understanding your employee’s needs is vital to implementing the correct adjustments. They can also tell you if something needs resolving/improving!
Working in retail shouldn’t have to be impossible for someone with a chronic illness/disability. If I’d have been able to alter my work hours slightly, I’d still be there now as I loved what I did. The main thing to takeaway is that everyone is different, and all we’re asking for is a more inclusive and understanding world.