Walmart, the retail giant in the United States, has begun a pilot program in some of its stores where employees are required to wear body cameras while working.
According to a report from CNBC, it is not clear how many Walmart stores are equipped with this technology, but there have been sightings and online photos showing some stores now have signs at the entrance warning shoppers of “body cameras in use.”
A spokesperson for Walmart told CNBC, “While we do not discuss the specific details of our security measures, we are constantly monitoring new and innovative technologies used throughout the retail industry. This is a pilot test we are conducting in a market, and we will evaluate the results before making any long-term decisions.”
Some smaller retailers have already started using body cameras in their stores as a security measure. However, Walmart states that it intends to use this technology to ensure the safety of its employees.
According to a document posted on an online forum for Walmart employees and customers, the company provides guidance on how to use these devices. The document instructs employees to “record the incident if interactions with customers escalate,” but not to wear the device in employee break areas and bathrooms.
However, it is still uncertain whether employees wearing body cameras will feel any safer. A former retail industry veteran who worked at “Hot Topic” for around ten years and has since left the industry told CNBC that facing threats of violence was a norm in the job, and retail employees are unsure if body cameras can deter such situations.
The former employee also mentioned that body cameras would not necessarily make retail employees feel safer during these interactions, but having police presence nearby would be of some assistance.