Marks & Spencer is providing all employees with a personal safety app that they can use while on the move, Retail Week can reveal.
The retailer is introducing WalkSafe Pro to keep staff safe while getting home at night or while travelling. M&S also intends to designate its stores as ‘safe spaces’ for all users of the app, not just its employees.
Marks & Spencer said the app, through partner Mitie, allows employees “to make more informed journey decisions by providing information based on both police data and precautionary insights from other app users”.
M&S staff can share their live journey with contacts, or send SOS alerts if needed to a Mitie control centre 24 hours a day to summon a coordinated response if needed. They can also use it outside of work.
M&S retail director Thinus Keeve said: “Our colleagues’ need for safety doesn’t stop when a shift ends, and our colleagues have told us that travelling to and from work can be when they feel most vulnerable.
“WalkSafe is a simple but powerful way we’re responding. It’s another way we’re continuing to invest in security, helping our people stay connected and supported wherever they are.
“Our stores will become WalkSafe safe spaces, extending our role into the communities we serve, helping to create safer environments for everyone.”
The initiative comes as retailers across the board take action to improve staff safety, following high levels of abuse of and attacks upon retail employees.
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