Walmart is testing the use of body cameras for its store employees as part of a new initiative aimed at enhancing safety. This move comes as part of a broader effort to protect staff from workplace threats and improve the overall security of its stores. By equipping workers with this technology, Walmart hopes to address concerns related to harassment and customer conflicts, while providing an additional layer of protection for its workforce in the retail environment. Below is everything we know about this pilot program.
Where is the pilot program taking place?
Walmart is currently piloting the use of body cameras in a select number of stores in the Dallas area. The retail giant emphasized that, while it doesn’t disclose specific security measures, it continually explores new technologies within the retail sector.
“This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions.” Walmart told Retail Dive.
David Johnston, VP of asset protection and retail operations at the National Retail Federation, noted that retailers are still adapting body camera technology to suit their environments.
“Retailers are making every effort to ensure the safety and well-being of their customers, associates and communities,” he told Retail Dive. “The use of body cameras is still a newer technology being used in retail and individual retailers are finding how this technology best works within their environments.”
The rise of theft and acts of violence in retail stores
In his email to Retail Dive, Johnston cited a recently released NRF study, conducted in partnership with the Loss Prevention Research Council and Sensormatic. The study revealed a concerning trend: 91% of surveyed senior loss prevention and retail industry security executives reported an increase in shoplifter violence and aggression since 2019.
To combat this rise in threats, retailers have implemented various security measures. These include securing merchandise with locks, removing products from the sales floor, utilizing RFID technology, employing shopping cart locks, enforcing receipt checks or exit gates, and increasing the presence of uniformed security personnel or law enforcement officers. However, the report acknowledged that some of these measures can negatively impact the customer experience.
The survey also highlighted a growing concern regarding violence during crimes. Eighty-four percent of respondents indicated that violence has become a more significant issue compared to the previous year. Furthermore, 55% expressed heightened concerns about guest-related violence, 40% cited employee-related violence, and 34% named mass violence or active shooter situations as major worries.
Is Walmart’s body camera initiative enough to address worker safety?
Terrysa Guerra, co-executive director of United for Respect, criticized Walmart’s body camera rollout as insufficient to address the company’s ongoing workplace safety issues.
Guerra argued that there is limited evidence to support the idea that body cameras will enhance associate safety. She emphasized the need for increased investment in workforce staffing levels, improved safety training, and strengthened safety protocols.
“Workers have been sounding the alarm on Walmart’s workplace safety crisis for years. From mass shootings, to physical and verbal assaults from customers, associates do not feel safe,” Guerra told Retail Dive in a statement. “As the largest private employer in the country, Walmart has the resources to make real changes to improve worker safety, and this rollout of body cameras is not an adequate solution.”