Oct. 28, 2020 — The National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation has launched two new trainings to its Rise Up program, designed in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The credentials, focused on retail operations and customer conflict prevention, are offered to help keep the economy open by ensuring that retail workers of small and mid-size businesses (and the customers they serve) can work and shop safely.
"Retailers have been on the front lines of this pandemic as economic first responders and are going above and beyond to maintaining a safe work environment for themselves, their colleagues, and their customers,” says NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “These new credentials will give employees the training they need to continue operating and serving customers safely. An informed workforce will build customer confidence and show local and state governments that retailers are taking all steps possible to prevent the spread of Covid-19."

For more information on the courses, provided by the NRF Foundation:

The Covid-19 Retail Operations credential: Made possible by American Express, this offering will train customer-facing retail workers, distribution center workers, and job seekers to help safely operate during the pandemic. Designed to assist retailers meet state and local requirements for Covid-19 trainings, the course helps educate employees to recognize Covid-19 symptoms, take appropriate actions if exposed, and understand CDC best health practices and tools used in retail.
The Covid-19 Customer Conflict Prevention credential: Created in partnership with the Crisis Prevention Institute, this offering was developed specifically for customer-facing retail workers and job seekers and focuses on how to help avoid and de-escalate conflict. This training is specific to retail’s unique challenges, including mask requirements for customers, customer-to-customer conflicts, and line management. It will help equip employees with the skills they need to better manage and resolve customer conflicts, especially during the busy holiday season. For more on this topic, head to the Staff Training column in the Oct. 2020 issue of EB.

Learn more: nrffoundation.org/riseup.