Protect Retail Workers: Require Anti-Fatigue Mats and 5-Minute Seated Breaks Every Hour!

PETITION TO OSHA: Protect Retail Workers from the Physical Harm of Prolonged Standing

We Demand Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats and Mandatory Seated Recovery Breaks for Retail Employees

To the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor, and Federal Workplace Safety Regulators:

We are calling for a national workplace safety standard that protects retail employees from the physical consequences of standing for prolonged periods on hard surfaces.

Every day, millions of retail employees, beauty professionals, cashiers, sales associates, department store employees, and customer service workers are expected to stand for hours on unforgiving surfaces such as tile, concrete, and other hard flooring.

Many employees spend the majority of their shifts standing in one location, often without adequate opportunities to sit, rest, or relieve the physical pressure placed on their bodies.

This is not simply an issue of workplace comfort. It is an issue of occupational health and safety.

Prolonged standing on hard flooring can contribute to:

● Chronic foot pain and inflammation.

● Heel pain and plantar fasciitis.

● Leg, knee, hip, and lower-back pain.

● Muscle fatigue and physical exhaustion.

● Circulatory discomfort and swelling.

● Increased risk of repetitive strain and musculoskeletal injuries.

Retail workers should not have to sacrifice their long-term physical health simply because their jobs require them to be on their feet.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING OSHA TO REQUIRE

We are petitioning OSHA to establish a nationwide workplace safety standard requiring the following protections:

1. Mandatory Anti-Fatigue Floor Mats

All retail employers whose employees are required to stand for extended periods on hard flooring, including tile, concrete, and similar surfaces, must provide appropriate, professionally rated anti-fatigue mats in designated standing work areas.

These mats should be maintained in safe condition and positioned to reduce prolonged exposure to hard surfaces.

2. Five-Minute Seated Recovery Breaks

Retail employees who are required to stand for extended periods should receive a minimum five-minute opportunity to sit and recover for every hour of continuous standing.

These short recovery periods should be provided in addition to legally required meal and rest breaks, not as a replacement for them.

3. Access to a Chair or Designated Seating Area

Employers must provide accessible seating so employees can sit during designated recovery periods and whenever their job duties reasonably permit.

A worker should not be forced to remain standing simply to create the appearance of being busy or productive.

4. Protection Across All Retail Industries

These protections should apply consistently to:

● Department stores.

● Beauty and cosmetic retail counters.

● Clothing and fashion stores.

● Grocery and convenience stores.

● Pharmacies.

● Specialty retail establishments.

● Shopping malls and other customer-facing retail workplaces.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Retail employees are essential to the American workforce. They spend their days serving customers, stocking merchandise, performing demonstrations, processing transactions, and representing the companies they work for.

Yet many are expected to endure hours of uninterrupted standing on hard surfaces without even the basic physical accommodations that could help reduce unnecessary strain.

Employers invest in equipment, technology, store displays, and customer experience. Employee health and physical well-being should receive that same consideration.

A five-minute seated recovery period and a properly designed anti-fatigue mat are relatively simple workplace accommodations that can help reduce physical strain and support a healthier workforce.

No employee should have to choose between earning a living and protecting their physical health.

OUR REQUEST

We respectfully ask OSHA to review the occupational risks associated with prolonged standing in retail workplaces and establish an enforceable national standard requiring anti-fatigue flooring and regular seated recovery opportunities.

We also ask the Department of Labor and workplace safety policymakers to recognize prolonged standing on hard surfaces as a preventable occupational health concern deserving specific protections.

This petition is for every retail employee who finishes a shift with aching feet, swollen legs, exhausted muscles, and back pain.

It is for the employees who are told to keep standing even when their bodies need a break.

It is for the people who show up every day, work hard, serve the public, and deserve to be treated with dignity.

Standing all day should not be a condition of sacrificing your health to keep your job.

We believe employee health should come before outdated workplace expectations.

It is time for a change.

SIGN THIS PETITION. SUPPORT RETAIL WORKER HEALTH. DEMAND SAFER STANDING CONDITIONS.

Respectfully,

Concerned Retail Workers and Supporters Across America