An investor guide to engaging retailers on employee relations - PRI 2015

Employee relations1 refers to how a company manages the skills, engagement and retention of its employees.

Employee relations are particularly relevant in the retail sector given the large number of employees, many of whom are customer-facing and can therefore directly impact on customer satisfaction and sales. Yet reporting on employee relations in the retail sector remains low despite a growing body of academic evidence.

From 2013-2015, the PRI coordinated a collaborative engagement with the aim of improving reporting and practices at 27 global retail companies. An analysis after the engagement period showed that the companies improved in reporting, particularly in the areas of employee training and employee engagement.