A growing body of evidence is pointing to stress as one of the most significant contributors to workplace accidents — and U.S. retailers may need to see it as both a safety and security risk. A recent multinational study by EcoOnline found that more than half of North American workers have experienced stress-related issues on the job. In the retail environment, where customer interactions are constant, peak season demands are intense, and operational pressures are high, prolonged stress can set the stage for mistakes, accidents, and even violent incidents.
The Link Between Stress, Safety, and Violence
Workplace stress doesn’t just increase the risk of slips, trips, and equipment mishandling — it also fuels the rise in workplace violence. Retailers have reported more confrontations between employees and customers, as well as tension among staff. Fatigue, frustration, and mental exhaustion can reduce patience, escalate tempers, and lower the ability to de-escalate situations. In some cases, stress-related mental health strain can push already tense interactions over the edge, creating a dangerous environment for both employees and shoppers.
Operational and Financial Fallout
The safety implications are just the beginning. High stress levels can lead to costly turnover, increased workers’ compensation claims, and a damaged reputation if employees or customers are injured in incidents linked to overwork or burnout. Retailers already balancing thin margins may find that the hidden cost of stress is eroding profitability just as much as theft or shrink.
Proactive Prevention Strategies
Experts warn that reducing stress is about more than adding wellness programs — it requires systemic change. U.S. retailers are being urged to implement better scheduling to avoid chronic understaffing, provide regular training in both safety and conflict de-escalation, and leverage digital safety tools to streamline hazard reporting and task management. By creating supportive, well-resourced environments, retailers can cut down on both accidents and aggression.
As EcoOnline’s CEO Tom Goodmanson noted, “Supporting employee wellbeing means going beyond compliance – creating environments that are productive, supportive, and safe.” In today’s climate, that means acknowledging stress not as an individual weakness, but as a workplace hazard — one that, if ignored, could fuel the next safety incident or violent confrontation on the sales floor.
EcoOnline. (2025, July 31). How safe & sustainable is your workplace? EcoOnline. https://www.ecoonline.com/news/how-safe-sustainable-is-your-workplace
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2023, June 5). Workplace stress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/stress
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2024). Preventing workplace violence in healthcare and social service settings. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/workplace-violence
Society for Human Resource Management. (2024, March 18). Burnout and stress are driving turnover in retail. SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools