Growing Fair Work in Retail
A collaborative resource produced jointly by the Scottish Government and the Retail Industry Leadership Group (RILG) to support the sector achieve its Fair Work goals.
6. Existing Support for Retailers
Fair Work can positively impact on organisational reputation and recruitment, reduce staff turnover and lead to diverse workplaces with talent which are all critical to a sector in transformation such as retail. Employers have access to a Fair Work Employer Support Tool to help them adopt Fair Work practices.
Large employers provide 69.6% of employment in the Scottish retail sector. It is important that jobs in both small and larger retailers are secure and of good quality. Paying employees the real Living Wage and Living Hours (specifically the number and frequency of hours) are two ways that retail employers can demonstrate their commitment to staff. Research shows the real Living Wage can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve staff morale. Living Hours recognises that in addition to payment of the real Living Wage, number and frequency work hours are critical to tackling in-work poverty. Both schemes aim to help create more secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs.
The Scottish Government have committed to helping business adopt Fair Work through:
- a Fair Work Employer Support Tool to help employers self-assess their current practices and signpost them to support to help them make their workplaces fairer
- expanding Fair Work First criteria to support flexible and family-friendly working and oppose fire and rehire practices
- introducing a Living Hours Accreditation Scheme for Scotland, and continue to support the real Living Wage in Scotland
- legislation – the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 – brought in to increase the protection of workers in the retail sector, particularly those applying or enforcing an age-restriction in relation to the sale or supply of goods or services
- our Anti-Racist Employment Strategy to support and encourage employers to take an anti-racism approach to the recruitment, retention and progression of racialised minorities and build inclusive workplace cultures.
Contact
Email: DBBRRetailStrategy@gov.scot