Peak seasons and peak moments leave 37 per cent of shopfloor workers wanting to quit their job, a problem retailers cannot afford to carry into a golden summer, shows a recent research from Quinyx.

The World Cup presents a £2.9 billion opportunity for retailers. But peak moments bring significant operational strain – a workforce under stress, and a leadership team navigating irregular forecasting.

The research reveals an industry already under pressure. Two in five (43%) shopfloor workers reported high to very high stress levels during the last peak season. The causes are operational.

Over half (58%) cite understaffing as their top stress driver, and nearly half (49%) point to unpredictable customer demand.

Scheduling is an influential solution to both understaffing, and predicting demand, but many retailers neglect it. Just 19% of shopfloor staff are confident their company’s scheduling accurately reflects customer demand, against 40% of leadership.

One in five (20%) workers say shift changes frequently or constantly disrupt their work or personal plans. And 39% still rely on WhatsApp or informal group chats to receive shift updates during the most demanding trading periods of the year.

Despite alarming figures for leadership teams, there is a path to better managing peak season stress and seizing the summer of sport opportunity.

Ned Gammell, head of UK & Ireland at Quinyx, said: “The World Cup is a huge commercial opportunity for UK retail, but the strain of big peak events can also harm long-term growth and retention.

"Peak moments require operational readiness that the data suggests many retailers don’t yet have.

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One in three retail workers consider quitting after peak season,

Shopfloor teams and leadership both need clarity in handling scheduling and shift changes while reducing workforce stress – giving the retailer lower attrition, stronger productivity and a real advantage this summer and beyond.”