MP discusses mental health impact of working in retail at House of Commons

Usdaw has identified three key areas of concern for members’ mental health:

• Cost of living crisis is severely impacting workers’ living standards and Usdaw’s recent survey found it is affecting 72% of our members’ mental health.
• Violence, threat and abuse against retail workers impacts over 70% of shopworkers, Usdaw’s survey found, and is worse in the run-up to Christmas.
• Christmas and New Year working leaves retail workers stressed and exhausted, but they get too little time off to help them recover.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said: “One in four of us will have a mental health problem at some point in our lives; for too long mental health has been a taboo subject and individuals are often unfairly blamed for their condition. So we very much welcome this opportunity for our members to speak directly to the shadow minister about their experiences, because the way we are treated at work has a significant impact on our mental health.

“The shame and secrecy that surrounds mental health can have devastating consequences. Usdaw wants to change that and our campaign message is ‘it’s good to talk’. We are encouraging conversations around mental health and signposting members for support. The situation is particularly difficult at this time with the worsening cost of living crisis, high levels of abuse that too many retail workers face and the exceptionally busy run-up to Christmas, with too little time off.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Labour’s shadow cabinet minister for Mental Health, said: “Far too many people are facing this Christmas period worried about how to provide for their families. With so many Usdaw members having their mental health impacted as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and increased levels of abuse in the workplace, it is deeply important that we, as politicians, take the time to listen.