Walmart employees are sporting something new with their uniforms. Have you noticed these?
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In an era where every move seems to be captured on camera, Walmart is taking a bold step into the realm of personal surveillance by equipping some of its store-level associates with devices on their uniforms.
This pilot program, which has been confirmed by the team at CNBC, is currently being tested in select U.S. stores, leaving many to wonder about the implications for both workers and shoppers. What are these new additions to their uniforms? Should you be alarmed?
As you walk into certain Walmart stores, you might be greeted with signs informing you that “body-worn cameras are in-use.” It’s not clear, though, as to how many of Walmart’s stores have these recording devices.
This isn't a scene from a futuristic movie; it's the reality for some Walmart locations, including a store in Denton, Texas, where associates have been spotted donning yellow-and-black body cameras. Yes, the aisles have eyes now too.
“While we don’t talk about the specifics of our security measures, we are always looking at new and innovative technology used across the retail industry,” a Walmart spokesperson said. “This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions.”
Walmart, known as the largest private employer in the U.S., is exploring this technology at a time when smaller retailers have already begun to implement body cameras as a deterrent against theft.
However, Walmart's intentions for the body cameras extend beyond loss prevention. The company aims to use the technology primarily for worker safety, a move that could potentially change the dynamic of customer-employee interactions.
Walmart has provided its staff with guidelines on how to use the body cameras, as seen in a document titled “Providing great customer service while creating a safer environment.”
Employees are instructed to record events if an interaction with a customer escalates, but they are also advised not to wear the cameras in private areas such as break rooms and bathrooms.
After an incident, the protocol involves discussing the event with a team member and logging it in the company's ethics and compliance application.
The timing of this pilot program is noteworthy, coinciding with the holiday shopping season—a period known for long hours and sometimes tense interactions between retail workers and customers.
The introduction of body cameras raises questions about their effectiveness in de-escalating conflicts and whether they serve more as a tool for surveillance than for safety.
Opinions on the use of body cameras in retail settings are divided. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, expresses concern that the cameras may be more about monitoring employees and deterring theft than ensuring their safety.
“Workers need training on de-escalation. Workers need training on what to do during a hostile situation at work. The body camera doesn’t do that. The body camera doesn’t intervene,” said Appelbaum. “We need safe staffing and we need panic buttons.”
Bianca Agustin, co-executive director for United for Respect–a workers’ organization for Walmart and Amazon Staff–said, “Body cameras could be part of the solution but cameras alone are “no substitute” for proper training. … Plus, there’s already cameras in stores.”
On the other hand, David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation, suggests that body cameras can indeed reduce conflict, as people tend to modify their behavior when they know they're being recorded.
The true test of the body camera initiative's success will be the experiences of the Walmart associates themselves.
A former retail employee with a decade of experience at Hot Topic shared that threats of violence were a regular part of the job, and they doubted that body cameras would have deterred such behavior. They believed that a police presence would have been more effective in ensuring safety.
“With these people, when they’re in our faces and they’re acting like they’re going to hit us or they’re making threats to meet us in the parking lot, they’re not thinking rationally,” quipped the former mall employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Even with a camera facing them, I don’t think they would care in the moment.”
Rather than a body camera, the former employee said police presence nearby would be a better, more reassuring security option.
The National Retail Federation's annual security survey revealed that 35% of retailers are researching body cameras for their employees. TJX Companies, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and HomeGoods, has already implemented body cameras and reported a reduction in shrink, or lost inventory.
What are your thoughts on the use of body cameras in retail settings? Have you encountered a body camera-wearing associate during your shopping experience? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
This pilot program, which has been confirmed by the team at CNBC, is currently being tested in select U.S. stores, leaving many to wonder about the implications for both workers and shoppers. What are these new additions to their uniforms? Should you be alarmed?
As you walk into certain Walmart stores, you might be greeted with signs informing you that “body-worn cameras are in-use.” It’s not clear, though, as to how many of Walmart’s stores have these recording devices.
This isn't a scene from a futuristic movie; it's the reality for some Walmart locations, including a store in Denton, Texas, where associates have been spotted donning yellow-and-black body cameras. Yes, the aisles have eyes now too.
“While we don’t talk about the specifics of our security measures, we are always looking at new and innovative technology used across the retail industry,” a Walmart spokesperson said. “This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions.”
Walmart, known as the largest private employer in the U.S., is exploring this technology at a time when smaller retailers have already begun to implement body cameras as a deterrent against theft.
However, Walmart's intentions for the body cameras extend beyond loss prevention. The company aims to use the technology primarily for worker safety, a move that could potentially change the dynamic of customer-employee interactions.
The initiative is aimed at improving worker safety, not just deterring theft. Image source: CBS News via X.
Walmart has provided its staff with guidelines on how to use the body cameras, as seen in a document titled “Providing great customer service while creating a safer environment.”
Employees are instructed to record events if an interaction with a customer escalates, but they are also advised not to wear the cameras in private areas such as break rooms and bathrooms.
After an incident, the protocol involves discussing the event with a team member and logging it in the company's ethics and compliance application.
The timing of this pilot program is noteworthy, coinciding with the holiday shopping season—a period known for long hours and sometimes tense interactions between retail workers and customers.
The introduction of body cameras raises questions about their effectiveness in de-escalating conflicts and whether they serve more as a tool for surveillance than for safety.
Opinions on the use of body cameras in retail settings are divided. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, expresses concern that the cameras may be more about monitoring employees and deterring theft than ensuring their safety.
“Workers need training on de-escalation. Workers need training on what to do during a hostile situation at work. The body camera doesn’t do that. The body camera doesn’t intervene,” said Appelbaum. “We need safe staffing and we need panic buttons.”
Bianca Agustin, co-executive director for United for Respect–a workers’ organization for Walmart and Amazon Staff–said, “Body cameras could be part of the solution but cameras alone are “no substitute” for proper training. … Plus, there’s already cameras in stores.”
On the other hand, David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation, suggests that body cameras can indeed reduce conflict, as people tend to modify their behavior when they know they're being recorded.
The true test of the body camera initiative's success will be the experiences of the Walmart associates themselves.
A former retail employee with a decade of experience at Hot Topic shared that threats of violence were a regular part of the job, and they doubted that body cameras would have deterred such behavior. They believed that a police presence would have been more effective in ensuring safety.
“With these people, when they’re in our faces and they’re acting like they’re going to hit us or they’re making threats to meet us in the parking lot, they’re not thinking rationally,” quipped the former mall employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Even with a camera facing them, I don’t think they would care in the moment.”
Rather than a body camera, the former employee said police presence nearby would be a better, more reassuring security option.
The National Retail Federation's annual security survey revealed that 35% of retailers are researching body cameras for their employees. TJX Companies, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and HomeGoods, has already implemented body cameras and reported a reduction in shrink, or lost inventory.
What are your thoughts on the use of body cameras in retail settings? Have you encountered a body camera-wearing associate during your shopping experience? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
