Retail Surgery: How Can Retailers Offset Warehouse Risk?

As a number of UK retailers have learnt in recent months, a disconnect between retail warehouses and head offices creates the risk of certain staff members being poorly treated behind closed doors. Principal associate Jemma O’Reilly at the law firm Gowling WLG says: “Retail operations in particular are open to risk, not only because they are spread over a number of different sites, but due to the inherent mix of permanent, temporary and agency staff that are used by the bigger players. “However, failing to ensure that employment law is enforced consistently throughout these separate groups and sites leaves the way open for abuse of the system and the risk of successful tribunal claims.” In doing this, retailers not only fall foul of the law – sometimes for practices that senior management had no knowledge of – but they risk missing out on the benefits that come with a content and cohesive workforce. Read more at Retail Week.