Human Resources

In August and September of 2020, the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance conducted a survey of retail dietitians to capture insights on retail dietitians’ roles, job satisfaction, shopper engagement and how your roles have shifted this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.  In total, 119 retail RDs completed the survey.  Today, we're sharing the survey results.

I’m not going to lie, when I was asked to write this article, I honestly committed without being sure I would have the time to put words on paper. I wondered with the busyness of being a leader, wife, newly found home schoolteacher and working mom of two crazy boys, how would I make the time?  

The pandemic has dramatically changed the way we live and work and for many people, trying to balance a career from home along with kids and household accountabilities has left little time for self-care. But prioritizing time for nurturing ourselves is perhaps now more important than ever. Here are some ways to ensure you incorporate self-care into your agenda:

Months into the pandemic, you may be looking around your home office – whether it’s a portable station at the dining room table or a desk in your basement – realizing that your current set-up isn’t perfect. With school starting, you realize you need to create a new workspace away from kids engaged in virtual learning. The following tips can help you create a more efficient workspace.

A lot has changed in 2020, and it’s likely that as a retail RD, you’ve been required to show agility, flexibility and creativity to navigate the changes at your retailer and in your role. It’s also likely that in this process, you’ve learned some things about yourself. Perhaps you’re not as flexible in your work as you thought, or you’ve realized you like a bit of shake up now and again.

While you are employed, circumstances may have you wondering about your current pay grade and if your salary is in line with similar positions. Lou Whiting, HR Retail Expert provides insights regarding pay grades, bonuses and how to have difficult compensation discussions:

Learning all you can about a potential new job and asking the right questions can help you determine if the position would be a good fit. It also plays a big part in demonstrating your genuine interest in the role while conveying your career priorities. Whether you are seeking your first job in retail, interviewing for a promotion within the company, or seeking a new opportunity in retail outside the company, Lou Whiting, HR Retail Consultant, provides advice on discussing compensation and more during the interview process:

In April of 2019, we ran an article on self-care. This article saw some of the highest open rates and generated the most members comments of any article. As I’ve talked to many retail RDNs over the past two months, it’s clear that this topic is one worth revisiting.

Strong negotiations skills are essential for retail dietitians to possess, as most services and programs you offer require partnership at some level. Previously, we have discussed getting comfortable with negotiation basics, which has given rise to questions from RDBA members on how to handle situations when negotiations become contentious. Today’s article focuses on tips for managing these complicated conversations.

Given retailers’ expansive geographical reach, it’s not uncommon for retail dietitians to manage a team, work for, or have colleagues in a different geographic location. Peak shopping hours create ideal times for healthy living programs, resulting in varied work schedules for retail RDs. The end result is heavier reliance on technology to build relationships amongst teams.