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- Investing in People
The retail industry is a window into the American workforce. As the nation’s largest private sector employer, retail supports more than 52 million American jobs throughout our diverse ecosystem. Retail workers represent all types of people, in all types of roles, experience, education, and skills, in all phases of their lives. Retail is for everyone; it is the place for a first job, a second chance, a third act, or a side hustle – the retail workforce is truly representative of the American workforce.
Leading retailers are building a 21st century retail workforce that is diverse, innovative, and skilled. Federal workforce laws are woefully outdated and antiquated policy ideas are unlikely the solution. RILA is ready to work with policy makers and other stakeholders to find transformative solutions that modernize federal workforce public policy and enable retailers to continue to invest in people and communities.
A Deeper Look into Investing in People
Growing the 21st Century Retail Workforce
RILA advocates for forward-thinking workplace policies at the state and federal level that reflect the needs of a large and diverse workforce.
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Creating a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Workforce
RILA is devoted to ensuring retailers have access to the tools, research, and benchmarking to improve policies around DE&I.
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Thank You Retail Workers
RILA is working with stakeholders to redesign and pursue workforce policies and practices to help retailers serve customers and communities well.
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Preserving Existing Benefits and Creating New Opportunities
RILA members are at the forefront of developing new innovative approaches designed to encourage preventative health, improve outcomes, and lower cost.
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Employing and Supporting DACA Beneficiaries
RILA is an unwavering support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and continues to advocate for a permanent solution.
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Criminal Justice Reform
Retailers urge Congress to take bipartisan action on meaningful reforms that rebuilds trust in law enforcement.
Learn MoreConnect with Issue Area Experts
The retail industry needs workplace laws that allow for retailers to invest in their people while maintaining the flexibility to react to ever changing customer demands and expectations. RILA is working with stakeholders to redesign and pursue workforce policies and practices to help retailers utilize the gig economy and technology, compete with other industries for talent, and serve customers and communities well.
Evan Armstrong Vice President, Workforce
Investing in People
Retailers Remind Congress Why INFORM Act Needs to be in NDAA
- By [Michael Hanson]
- 10/04/2022
Federal Reserve Ends Debit Duopoly
- By [Austen Jensen]
- 10/03/2022
Retailers Welcome Bill to Combat Organized Retail Crime
- By [Michael Hanson]
- 09/29/2022
Retailers Urge Court to Vacate Tariffs in Ongoing Litigation
- By [Kathleen McGuigan, Blake Harden]
- 09/22/2022
Congress Has Opportunity to Protect Consumers, Biz with NDAA
- By [Michael Hanson]
- 09/22/2022
Retailers Welcome House Competition Bill Introduction
- By [Austen Jensen]
- 09/19/2022
Rail Labor Agreement Welcome News for Retail Supply Chains
- By [Jess Dankert]
- 09/15/2022
Supply Chain Crisis Averted: Rail Agreement Reached
- By [Jess Dankert]
- 09/15/2022
USTR’s Patently Insufficient Response to Tariff Comments
- By [Deborah White, Kathleen McGuigan]
- 09/14/2022
Emergency Order Needed to Support Info Sharing at U.S. Ports
- By [Sarah Gilmore]
- 09/14/2022
Retailers Back WH Rail Decree, Urge Congress to Step in
- By [Brian Dodge]
- 09/13/2022
Retailers Support Community Amid Water Crisis
- By [Brian Dodge]
- 09/12/2022