Safety as a retention strategy: Supporting associates during retail’s busiest seasons

Watch the on-demand recording of our LPF and Axon panel on protecting frontline teams when it matters most.

Peak season tests your people

Holiday rushes, promotions, and peak inventory periods raise the pressure on associates and the teams who keep them safe, which can mean incidents, burnout, and turnover at the worst possible time.

According to Axon’s 2026 Retail and Healthcare Security Leadership Survey, 92% of retail leaders rate safety and security as an essential or high priority, and 80% report operational disruption from safety incidents in the past year.

Hear retail safety, operations, loss prevention, and security experts discuss how associate safety connects to confidence, retention, and business performance.

What you’ll learn

• Why peak periods increase safety and security risks

• How safety and employee confidence affect retention

• How to prepare frontline teams before high-volume periods

• How LP, Security, HR, and Operations can work together

• Strategies for de-escalation and incident response

• How technology improves communication and situational awareness

• What to prioritize before your next peak season

Panelists

Read Hayes, LPRC: Independent industry perspective on workplace violence prevention and workforce resilience.

Rachel Hall, Axon: Retail technology and safety perspective on connected safety strategies.

Meredith Plaxco, Whitethorn Advisory Group LLC: Operator perspective on peak-season preparedness and retention.