Walmart employees to wear body cameras to create ‘safer environment’

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Walmart is testing out employees wearing body cameras to create a safer environment. The pilot program is happening in the area of Denton, Texas, with the potential to be added to more locations.

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While Walmart isn’t commenting on the specific reasons for starting the body camera initiative, it comes at the height of the holiday shopping season when interactions with customers tend to be more stressful.

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President Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union thinks employees need training on de-escalation and not just body cameras.

“There’s too much harassment that goes on through the year, but especially during the holiday season… It’s even worse,” Appelbaum told CNBC. “Everyone is stressed out.”

In a company document titled “Providing Great Customer Service While Creating a Safer Environment,” staff are instructed on how to use the body camera devices. They are told to record an event if an interaction with a customer is escalating. After the incident happens, staff are supposed to discuss it with another team member who can help them log the event.

The National Retail Federation revealed in a 2023 study what it calls “unprecedented levels” of retail crime, violence and theft. According to the data, 88% of stores reported shoplifters were more aggressive compared to the previous year.

A former retail employee who spoke to CNBC said they’re doubtful body cameras would actually work to minimize aggressive behavior, adding they don’t think the customer would care in the moment, even with the camera facing them.

Last year some stores, including T.J. Maxx, started using body cameras to try and prevent theft. The company’s finance chief said the devices have been effective in reducing lost inventory.

Tags: Bodycam, Holiday shopping, National Retail Federation, Retail Theft, shopping, Walmart

[Lauren Taylor]

WALMART IS TESTING OUT EMPLOYEES WEARING BODY CAMERAS TO CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.

C-N-B-C REPORTS THE PILOT PROGRAM IS HAPPENING IN THE AREA OF DENTON, TEXAS … WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE ADDED TO MORE LOCATIONS.

DEPUTY BRYAN WOODWARD RECENTLY POSTED A VIDEO TO TIKTOK SHOWING HIM INTERACTING WITH THE WALMART EMPLOYEES WEARING THE BODY CAMS … AND GAVE HIS TAKE ON IT.

has it really gotten that bad at walmart now.. It’s gotten to the point where ya’ll are not gonna believe this.. Walmart employees are wearing body cameras – I’m wearing a body camera and they’re wearing the same brand.

WHILE WALMART ISN’T COMMENTING ON THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR STARTING THE BODY CAMERA INITIATIVE – IT COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON WHEN INTERACTIONS WITH CUSTOMERS TEND TO BE MORE STRESSFUL.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION … STUART APPLEBAUM SAID …

“THERE’S TOO MUCH HARASSMENT THAT GOES ON THROUGH THE YEAR, BUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON .. IT’S EVEN WORSE. EVERYONE IS STRESSED OUT” … ADDING EMPLOYEES NEED TRAINING ON DE-ESCALATION.

IN A COMPANY DOCUMENT TITLED “PROVIDING GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE WHILE CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT”… STAFF ARE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO USE THE BODY CAM DEVICES AND TOLD TO RECORD AN EVENT IF AN INTERACTION WITH A CUSTOMER IS ESCALATING. AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENS, STAFF ARE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS IT WITH ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER WHO CAN HELP THEM LOG THE EVENT.

THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION REVEALED IN A 20-23 STUDY … WHAT THEY CALL “UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS” OF RETAIL CRIME, VIOLENCE, AND THEFT.

88 PERCENT OF STORES REPORTED SHOPLIFTERS WERE MORE AGGRESSIVE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

A FORMER RETAIL EMPLOYEE WHO SPOKE TO C-N-B-C SAYS THEY’RE DOUBTFUL BODY CAMS WOULD ACTUALLY WORK TO MINIMIZE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR… ADDING THEY DON’T THINK THE CUSTOMER WOULD CARE IN THE MOMENT … EVEN WITH THE CAMERA FACING THEM.

LAST YEAR, SOME STORES INCLUDING T-J MAXX STARTED USING BODY CAMS TO TRY AND PREVENT THEFT WITH THE COMPANY’S FINANCE CHIEF SAYING THE DEVICES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING LOST INVENTORY.

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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