Welfare Measures and Working Conditions of Employees in Shops and Establishments with Special Reference to Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu

Current welfare frameworks are insufficiently addressing new issues including job insecurity, work-life imbalance, and mental health concerns brought about by the quick digitization of retail, post-pandemic changes in work structures, and changing labor market conditions. The majority of the material now in publication has a strong emphasis on physical health and safety, paying little regard to the mental health issues that workers in demanding retail settings, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, encounter. For example, because of their distinct socioeconomic setting, places like Coimbatore necessitate a thorough examination in order to better comprehend local issues and the execution of welfare programs. The current study intends to investigate the variables that lead to the gaps in the implementation of statutory welfare measures, namely in the informal retail sector, as well as the working conditions of employees. In order to ensure representation from a variety of shops and locations, including malls, restaurants, retail stores, and small enterprises, a sample of roughly 300 employees was chosen. To gather quantitative information on wellbeing metrics, a standardized questionnaire was created. Employers and employees participated in semi-structured interviews to learn more about their perceptions on working conditions and welfare policies. statistical tools such as cross-tabulation, mean, standard deviation, and frequency distribution are used to analyze the data. Relationships between variables like working environment and employee happiness can also be investigated using sophisticated statistical tools like regression analysis and correlation. Key themes and patterns pertaining to employee wellbeing, difficulties implementing policies, and the individual experiences of employees were found by applying thematic analysis to the qualitative data from interviews. According to the study, satisfaction with welfare metrics is strongly positively correlated. Employee well-being and morale are greatly increased by improved welfare provisions. Workers are more likely to be content when they feel safe in their positions.