A recent study, published in Gender, Work and Organization, suggests that customer-perpetrated sexual harassment is prevalent across the Australian service sector, including the retail industry. The study, titled “‘But it’s your job to be friendly’: Employees coping with and contesting sexual harassment from customers in the service industry,” suggests that 9 per cent of all […]
The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges of product safety and compliance. The committee is an important forum for the development of the retail industry policy. It communicates regularly with government decision-makers and agencies, including Standards Australia, the ACCC, offices of Fair Trading […]
Following early trials of beacon technology at Westfield Hornsby in NSW, the Internet of Things revolution for retail is a reality. Zebra Technologies’ senior technical director for Asia Pacific Wayne Harper imagines a scenario in the near future: one where in-store IoT systems power dynamic cross- or up-sell opportunities. You pick up some pasta in […]
At the National Retail Association (NRA) we understand that your business has a range of professional development needs. To help our members meet their training and professional development requirements, we have partnered with the Association for Data-Driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) to deliver their marketing education program. We call it the IQ Marketing Education Program […]
The hardware, building and garden supplies category of retail is expected to generate in excess of $18.2 billion in turnover this financial year, representing growth of 6.9 per cent. Following a busy holiday trading period for the retail industry in general, the Australian economy, and retail in particular, is beginning to head in the right […]
The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched the Foundation Skills for Retail Web Portal, providing free training and professional development resources for language, literacy and numeracy practitioners operating across the Australian retail industry. The portal has been produced by the NRA with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government through the Department of […]
The retail trade figures for January, released today, showed a steady start to the year with an increase in turnover 0.3 per cent for the month, seasonally adjusted, and a 4.0 increase compared with January last year. This steady, if not spectacular, growth is welcome as we see consumer sentiment stabilising and spending patterns becoming […]
In the retail sector we can often get caught up in day-to-day operational matters such as turnover, staffing, pricing or advertising. During the rush of commercial life, we can sometimes overlook the fact that some people are struggling to simply put a roof over their heads. An important part of representing Australian businesses is supporting […]
The demotion of an employee may not in all circumstances meet the meaning of dismissed in section 385 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). Consideration must be given to the continuation of employment, the whether the demotion imposed a significant reduction in status and payment. The recent case of Phillip Moyle v […]
This recent case warns that labour hire companies cannot “abrogate [their] responsibilities to afford procedural and substantive fairness to a dismissed employee by relying on the fact that unfair treatment was meted out by another entity in which [they] had placed the employee.” Adecco Australia were found by the FWC to have unfairly dismissed a […]
In Australia, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner, whilst one woman is killed by her male partner every five or six days. The retail industry has one of the largest female workforces in Australia, and is also one of the most gendered industries with almost 60% of employees being female. […]
A new law recently passed by the Federal Government will protect small businesses from unfair contact terms in standard form contracts. The new law will will come into force on 12 November 2016 following a 12 month transition period. A small business is defined as employing less than 20 people, including casual employees employed on […]
As a result of 12 months of consultation and work, each of the State Hardware Industry Associations has now united together into one national body. Hardware Australia is a single national voice for independent hardware operators and suppliers and comprises of a national committee made up of two representatives from each state, ensuring that industry […]
Employers are reminded to take caution when sending their employees for a medical assessment, as a recent case has brought to light the consequences of dismissing an employee on these grounds. In the case of Norman v Lion Dairy and Drinks Limited, an employee who suffered from a serious skydiving accident was asked to seek […]
Over the past few weeks I’ve spoken with you about the broader national interest after spending time in Canberra, particularly issues surrounding taxation and the Budget. This week, I’d like to focus discussions back towards the association, in order to highlight a number of opportunities we’ve launched for members in coming months, particularly relating to […]
There are three broad areas to focus on when developing your strategy for a healthy workplace: raising awareness and reducing stigma; supporting employees with mental health conditions; and promoting a positive working environment. As a leader, there are many things you can do to create an environment where staff feel safe, happy and productive. But […]
Bullying is a serious issue. It dramatically raises stress levels for the person being bullied and is a major risk factor for developing mental health conditions. Unsurprisingly, beyondblue’s State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia study found 76 per cent of employees said depression and anxiety – the most common forms of mental health conditions […]
In September 2015, Gemma Kariotoglou, 24, Store Manager of Fossil Group, Macquarie NSW was named the National Retail Association’s (NRA) Young Retailer of the Year Scholarship Award Winner. Courtesy of Retail Doctor Group, Gemma’s prize included one-on-one mentoring from Retail Doctor Group’s CEO Brian Walker, one of Australia’s leading retail experts. This mentorship includes retail […]
Do you have any staff you would like to upskill? Take advantage of our special offer! All part-time and casual employees are invited to participate in the following workshops at no cost, that’s right FREE*! Customer Service Workshop Being a successful retail salesperson is more than just describing products and services. The National Retail Association (NRA) can […]
Safe Work Australia has published the Second Annual National Statement which identifies emerging trends in psychosocial health, safety and bullying in Australian workplaces. The data in the statement is based on data from accepted worker’s compensation claims involving mental stress. The statement highlights some interesting workplace trends:•the median direct cost of bullying-related workers’ compensation claims […]