Poundland has teamed up with retail charity Retail Trust to expand support for the mental health and wellbeing of its 12,000 employees across the UK.
As part of the new partnership, Poundland staff will have access to the retail trust’s confidential health helpline, as well as a wider package of support, including advice services, financial support and specialist help for young people in their care.
The initiative also includes dedicated resources to help employees cope with abuse in the workplace, after research from 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 program, Poundland managers 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 trends in wellbeing and respond more effectively to emerging issues within their workforce.
Poundland managing director Barry Williams said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to supporting colleagues in what can sometimes be a demanding working environment.
“Our colleagues do an excellent job, but we know that working in retail, especially in the workshop, can sometimes be challenging,” he said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to support them and we are pleased to be working with the Retail Trust to provide additional resources to 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 industry, including Mountain Warehouse, which announced a partnership with the charity last year.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said working with Poundland would provide vital support to thousands more retail workers.
“We look forward to helping thousands of colleagues across the country live happier, healthier lives,” he said. “This partnership includes new training and insights for managers, as well as practical resources to help associates address increasing mistreatment of store associates.”
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 health services with the aim of creating a healthier and more sustainable future for retail.
The partnership comes at a time when retailers are under increasing pressure due to rising costs, staff shortages and demanding customer behavior, making mental health and wellbeing an ongoing issue for major employers across the industry.
