Calls to retail helpline treble
Calls to a helpline from retail workers worried about losing their jobs have increased threefold in the past few months, a new report has revealed.
The Retail Trust said it had responded to the escalating rise in calls by launching a new programme, ReWork, to help people in the industry find a new job if they are made redundant.
Workers will be offered help and advice on how to prepare for a job interview and write a CV, as well as the chance to attend coaching sessions on finding employment.
Nigel Rothband, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: "Retail workers have been hard hit by the credit crunch, with calls to our helpline revealing the extent of the fall-out of redundancy, with debt management now the number one stimulus for calls.
"Calls regarding alcohol abuse, as a result of debt and recent redundancy, have also seen a dramatic rise.
"Our launch this week of ReWork aims to help redundant retail staff get back into employment sooner, keeping their valuable skills within the sector, by offering access to free professional career coaching, outplacement advice and career cafes."
The report said there were predictions that 100,000 retail workers would lose their jobs this year as a result of the recession.
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