Half of employees in Britain’s wholesale and retail sector have experienced conflict at work in the past year, according to new research published as workplace relations body Acas marks its 50th anniversary.
The findings highlight a significantly higher incidence of conflict in retail compared with the national average of 44 per cent, underlining ongoing pressures facing frontline store colleagues.
Acas – the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service – said retail workers reported the highest levels of workplace conflict of any sector, with 50 per cent of wholesale and retail trade employees encountering issues ranging from performance-related disputes to clashes with colleagues and managers.
Capability and performance concerns were cited as the most common trigger (38%), followed by personal disagreements and relationship issues (33%). The impact on wellbeing was pronounced: 57 per cent of workers involved in conflict said it led to stress, anxiety or depression, while 49 per cent reported reduced motivation or commitment.
The report also found that disabled workers whose disability significantly affects daily life reported the highest rates of conflict overall, at 68 per cent. In most cases, disputes involved a colleague (34%) or a line manager (32%), with nearly half of conflicts resolved informally with managers and 30 per cent settled directly between the individuals involved.
Niall Mackenzie, Acas chief executive, said the findings reinforce the continued need for strong, impartial workplace support.
“This year marks 50 years since we became Acas and started providing workplace advice, as well as resolving disputes,” he said. “Our report into conflict prevalence shows that there is still a need for Acas’s experts to bring their experience and cool heads to workplace disputes.”
He added: “Disputes at work might be inevitable, but the knock-on effects can be very costly if they are not managed and resolved properly. It is encouraging to see that informal methods to prevent and resolve disputes are already being used by bosses. Part of Acas’s role… is to make sure managers and leaders have the skills to build more harmonious workplaces.”
As part of its anniversary year, Acas highlighted its wider contribution to maintaining workplace stability across the economy. This year alone, the organisation has resolved 93 per cent of collective conciliation disputes and helped settle 90 per cent of potential employment tribunal claims without the need for a hearing. It also increased the reach of its training and advisory services by 78 per cent.
Employment rights minister Kate Dearden said Acas’s work remains essential to a modern labour market.
“For half a century, Acas has given workers a voice and supported employers to build stronger, more productive workplaces,” she said. “Early dispute resolution is vital to a modern, growing economy, and Acas will remain central to our plans to modernise industrial relations in a way that works for both workers and businesses.”
Acas has also launched a new five-year strategy designed to help employers navigate evolving workplace challenges, from flexible working to new forms of conflict, as it prepares for the next phase of its role in supporting the UK workforce.