Poundland has joined forces with the retail industry charity Retail Trust to expand mental health and wellbeing support for its 12,000 employees across the UK.
Under the new partnership, Poundland staff will gain access to the Retail Trust’s confidential wellbeing helpline alongside a wider package of support, including counselling services, financial assistance and specialist help for young people in their care.
The initiative also includes dedicated resources to help employees cope with abuse at work, after research by the Retail Trust found that almost half of retail workers experienced verbal or physical attacks from customers on a weekly basis last year.
As part of the programme, Poundland managers will receive CPD-accredited training to help them better support their teams. The Retail Trust will also provide access to its generative AI-powered “happiness dashboard”, a tool designed to help retailers identify wellbeing trends and respond more effectively to emerging issues across their workforce.
Barry Williams, managing director of Poundland, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to supporting colleagues in what can be a demanding working environment.
“Our colleagues do an amazing job, but we know working in retail, especially on the shop floor, can at times be challenging,” he said. “We’re committed to doing all we can to support them, and we’re pleased to be working with the Retail Trust to bring additional resources that will help protect their mental health and wellbeing.”
The Retail Trust already works with more than 200 retailers across the UK to improve mental health outcomes in the sector, including Mountain Warehouse, which announced a partnership with the charity last year.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said the collaboration with Poundland would extend vital support to thousands more retail workers.
“We’re looking forward to helping thousands of colleagues across the country live happier and healthier lives,” he said. “This partnership includes new training and insights for managers, as well as practical resources to help staff deal with the rising levels of shop worker abuse.”
Founded in 1832, the Retail Trust has a long history of supporting people working in retail throughout their careers. The charity focuses on providing practical help, emotional support and long-term wellbeing services, with the aim of creating a healthier and more sustainable future for the retail industry.
The partnership comes at a time when retailers are under increasing pressure from rising costs, staff shortages and challenging customer behaviour, placing mental health and wellbeing firmly on the agenda for major employers across the sector.