Convenience store association launches wellbeing guide for retailers

Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) on Tuesday (31) launched new guidance for the convenience sector to provide retailers with advice on how to support wellbeing for themselves and their colleagues.

The Wellbeing Guide has been developed in collaboration with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing (WWCW) to provide guidance for retailers of all sizes about practical steps to take on the shop floor to improve staff retention and customer service via a healthy, engaged workforce, ACS said, adding that the guide also includes case studies from across the sector.

The guide looks at key areas of wellbeing, including working environment, relationships and connections, health, learning, work and life balance, personal and purpose, colleague voice and personal finance.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience stores operate at the heart of our communities, offering local, flexible and secure jobs to hundreds and thousands of people across the UK. Now more than ever, it is vital that we turn our attention to the wellbeing of our staff to ensure that convenience stores are positive places for colleagues to work and for customers to visit.

“We’re encouraging retailers to take a proactive approach to workplace wellbeing and we have developed this guidance to provide our sector with actionable steps that can be implemented within stores to support staff and maintain a happy, healthy and productive workforce. From the examples used in the guide, and the results of our colleague survey, we know that our members are getting a great deal right in promoting wellbeing. This guide pulls together that good practice and aims to spread it throughout the sector.”

Claiming that there has been a huge demand for emotional and wellbeing support at GroceryAid, Steve Barnes, the chief executive said that the guidance for independent retailers could not come at a more crucial time.

A free, confidential helpline will also be available 24/7 to all working in independent retailers and their spouses and partners.

Nancy Hey, Executive Director of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing said: "The quality of our job matters for our wellbeing, so maximising the conditions that help us thrive in the workplace is really important. We are pleased to have contributed our evidence on what works to improve workplace wellbeing to this excellent guide. We hope it will support local store owners who have a vital role in serving their communities, never more so than over the last 18 months as they have also had to adapt to make sure that they can continue to do this while keeping their colleagues and customers safe."

Well being guide is available to download here: https://bit.ly/ACSwellbeingguide