The National Retail Federation expects retailers to hire 400,000 to 500,000 seasonal workers this holiday. Onboarding is a challenge. But more troublesome is a new statistic that shows a high rate of worker injuries. According to Sentry’s “2024 Retail & Wholesale Injury Report,” 38 percent of retail worker injuries occur within their first year on the job.
To generate the data for the report, Sentry culled more than 22,000 client cases.
Dan Grant, director of safety services at Sentry, a workers’ compensation insurer, said, “The holiday season is a critical time for retailers, but it also highlights the safety risks associated with onboarding new workers. Short-term hires often lack the job-specific training and support needed to prevent injuries. Our data is clear: prioritizing ongoing safety mentorship from Day One can help reduce injuries across the industry.”
“Workplace injuries can have a profound impact on an individual’s life. It affects their physical health, their emotional well-being and their financial security,” said Jean Feldman, RN, BSN, Sentry’s director of managed care. “To improve outcomes, we need to improve their support system. We need to work together and stay engaged with injured employees throughout their recovery, from care providers and claims professionals, to employers.”
Researchers at Sentry also identified other key stats, including top injuries. The report showed that strains and contusions accounted for nearly 50 percent of all workplace injuries, which was followed by lacerations and sprains. Sentry also found injuries resulted in about 70 lost workdays on average. The data showed that workers under 30 were the most prone to injuries. That age group accounted for 32 percent of all the injuries reported.
“Retail workers face constant physical demands, from stocking shelves to lifting heavy items in the stockroom or warehouse,” Grant said. “Behind the scenes, employees are constantly lifting, bending and reaching to keep up with customer needs. These repetitive tasks can lead to significant injuries. Our goal is to raise awareness of these risks and promote safer working alternatives for all employees while supporting and maintaining critical production goals.”
Aside from physical injuries, the report’s authors said some injuries can be more disruptive than others. “Beyond the physical injury, injured employees may struggle with: mental, social and emotional challenges; chronic pain, [and] dependance on pain medication,” the report stated, noting that each of these factors can complicate and delay recovery.
In response, Sentry said did an analysis to identify and address high-risk claims earlier. The company said its Injured Employee Complexity Factor Models was used to evaluate injury claims in all industries from 2021 to 2024. The goal was to identify workers most at risk for extended absences and with higher injury costs. “Workers flagged under our IECF standards account for nearly 35 percent of all workers’ compensation costs and take 2.6 times longer to return to work, based on a prior analysis,” the company said.
