New research shows a growing concern among customer-facing businesses including hardware stores and builders’ merchants about the impact of criminal activity on staff. 64% of those surveyed were victims of crime in the past year and 24% cited staff intimidation or abuse as the most common form of criminal activity they had experienced.
The research, conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of Netwatch Security, also shows that criminal activity had profound psychological and physical effects on staff members of the businesses affected, and was more prevalent in customer-facing sectors including health and social care, retail, forecourt, wholesale and hospitality:
- When asked about the impact of criminal activity, fear and stress were the leading concerns of businesses in customer-facing sectors, 35% vs. 30% national average.
- 30% experienced a loss of staff or a need for leaves of absence due to criminal activity in customer- facing sectors, versus 23% national average across all sectors
- There was a higher incidence of physical injuries in customer-facing sectors at 18% versus 13% national average.
Looking to the future, staff intimidation or abuse is the most concerning form of criminal activity mentioned by 56% of businesses in customer-facing sectors. This is the first time that staff intimidation or abuse has appeared in the Netwatch research and is a significant concern for organisations, particularly those with over 50 employees, where 42% of the cohort cited the issue.
In total 255 interviews were conducted with decision-makers across a wide range of organisations countrywide from the 24th May to 21st June 2023.
Leisha McGrath, a work and occupational psychologist (pictured) who reviewed the report, emphasised the importance of psychological safety in the workplace and the financial impact of staff well-being: She said: “The personal and psychological safety of employees should always be of concern for employers, especially where there is any risk of criminal activity or socially undesirable behaviour directed at them.
There is a direct correlation between an organisation actively ensuring a culture of safety and support, and its ability to attract, engage and retain staff. No one should ever feel unsafe at work. Safe and supported employees are more productive, and are more likely to stay with the organisation, and to speak positively about their employer outside of work.”
Colin Hayes, Netwatch Managing Director for Ireland and UK, commented: “This year’s report highlights an upward trend in business attitudes towards security, with a marked increase in those who perceive security an essential or high business priority.
“In this year’s survey, crime is reported to be costing each business over €30,000 but the unseen, human impact is becoming evident through staff absence and loss of staff due to negative events. That customer-facing organisations such as hardware retailers and builders merchants are taking supporting staff seriously, is a positive step for Irish business. In today’s climate of full employment, it also makes good business sense.
Doing all we can to support staff where possible, preventing or deterring criminals, and helping employees during and after negative events is in everyone’s best interests.”
Netwatch Group is a Carlow-based company established in 2003 which has now expanded into an international group with over 300,000 business, community and personal sites being monitored globally. Over the past 20 years it has become a market leader in Proactive Video Monitoring PVM with a proven and trusted service. The Netwatch state-of-the art monitoring centre in Carlow with bespoke technology and highly trained monitoring staff has been at the heart of this global development.
