Workers and store staff form an important part of retail, playing a big role in defining the overall retail experience. But retail is also one of the most demanding industries to work in.  A new research study from workplace safety expert Altro has found that retail workers are more likely than any other non-desk-based workers to skip out on exercise as a result of being tired from work - with over two-thirds (67%) of retail workers regularly doing this. 

This figure comes as part of a new piece of research from Altro which surveyed workers across various non-desk-based industries to see where people were spending the most time on their feet at work, as well as the physical effects manual work takes on these workers. 

The new research reveals that retail workers are more than THREE times (3.13) more active at work than the average Brit, with an average of 10,945 steps in a single shift - compared to the average person’s 3,500 (3,000-4,000 is the average in the UK according to previous NHS figures). 

Over the course of a career, retail workers clock up roughly 103,864,634 steps on their working days - or around 46,523 miles. That’s enough to take a casual stroll from London to Los Angeles (5,440 miles) AND BACK - more than FOUR times. 

When it comes to the mental health effects of the length of time spent on their feet during their shift, interestingly, nearly 4 in 5 (78%) retail workers say they think it has a positive effect. 

Despite the majority of retail workers reporting the time spent on their feet at work has a positive effect on their mental health, Altro’s research uncovered a common theme with those in the retail sector missing out on exercise, social events and even consulting medical advice as a result of their physical jobs. 

Altro’s research found that almost two-thirds (61%) of retail workers say they regularly skip out on recreational activities such as hobbies or meeting up with friends as a result of being tired from work. Another 52% of retail workers told Altro that they regularly leave social events because of this. 

While most retail workers think that their physical activity at work has a positive effect on their mental wellbeing, there were some clear physical wellbeing issues: 

• 4 in 5 (80%) say that they don’t drink as much water as they should when at work. 
• However, 57% of retail workers say they drink caffeinated drinks to ‘keep them going’ at work. 
• Two-thirds (62%) say they often skip meals at work because they’re too busy with other work tasks. 

Physical health is important, and Altro’s study found that many retail workers reported experiencing some negative physical aches and pains as a result of their job, with 1 in 9 (11%) taking time off work due to work related pains or injuries. What’s more: 

• Almost ALL (95%) say they rarely get the chance to sit down during their shifts - the most of any industry in the study. 
• More than half (54%) say they experience frequent back pain as a result of their job. 
• More than half (51%) say they have frequent foot pain. 
• A third (32%) say they have slipped or tripped while working.

It would be interesting to see how the Indian Retail industry fares in terms of its workers’ health and well being.