Walmart has launched a pilot program to equip some of its US store-level associates with body cameras, as part of a test to evaluate their effectiveness in preventing theft and improving worker safety. The body cameras, which are yellow-and-black in color, are being worn by associates in at least one store in Denton, Texas, and signs warning customers of their use have been posted at entry points in some locations.
The program is not being used as a loss prevention tool, but rather to improve worker safety, according to a person familiar with the program. In a document provided to employees, staff are instructed on how to use the devices, including how to record events if an interaction with a customer is escalating and how to discuss incidents with another team member.
The use of body cameras at Walmart comes during the holiday shopping season, when retail employees often face tense and hostile interactions with customers. Some experts, however, question whether body cameras are an effective way to deescalate conflict, citing concerns that they may be more about surveillance and deterrence than worker safety.
“We need safe staffing and we need panic buttons,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. “Workers need training on deescalation. Workers need training on what to do during a hostile situation at work. The body camera doesn’t do that.”
Others, including David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation, argue that body cameras can be an effective deterrent, as people are less likely to act aggressively when they know they are being recorded.
The use of body cameras is not unique to Walmart, as other retailers, including TJX Companies, have also started using the technology. Last year, the NRF’s annual security survey found that 35% of retailers were researching body cameras for retail employees or loss prevention staff, with 11% already piloting or testing the solution.
