Image of an ALDI checkout feature goes viral and sparks an intense debate online – What do YOU think?
- Replies 12
One shopper shared a snap of a new ALDI checkout feature on Reddit, leaving several users in a heated debate.
The customer revealed that ALDI cashiers in the US have now been given seats for them to use while working their shifts.
Previously, checkout workers at ALDI supermarkets in the US were given no choice but to stand throughout their entire workday while they scanned shoppers’ grocery items.
A tiny but stark difference between ALDI cashiers in Australia (and other parts of the world), where seats are and have always been provided for the supermarket employees at the register.
However, ALDI is the only major supermarket in Australia that provides seats for its checkout workers. In several European countries, including the UK and Germany, it’s the norm for checkout cashiers to be seated while working.
But in Canada and the US, it is expected for cashiers to stand during their entire shift.
Yay or nay? Image Credit: Reddit
The post prompted a dispute among users, with a heated debate ensuing around whether or not supermarket workers should be ‘allowed’ to sit while they scan groceries.
Many hailed the requirement as ‘cruel’, with one even pointing out how forcing employees to stand up all the time is ‘heartless’.
“I was just going to say what kind of heartless bastard would make their cashiers stand all the time?” said one user. “I can’t say I’m surprised this is a US-thing, but I’m still somehow disappointed.”
“They stand in Australia, too.” chimed another.
“Not in ALDI, mate. Coles and Woolies, probably. I haven’t noticed much.” responded a third.
“It’s cruel to make cashiers stand up when they can do the same job sitting down.” asserted another.
Some suggested reasons why factory and retail employers would rather have their employees stand up while working.
“It’s all about getting the most work efficiently from your worker. Not comfort…” one wrote.
Post Credit: @Bhoro
“I worked in a factory and they gave us a speech about how sitting created a ‘mentality of leisure’ that wasn’t appropriate for the workplace.” commented another.
Added a third: “There’s literally no reason to make cashiers stand, except that corporations don’t want their employees to be perceived as lazy.”
One retail worker shared their personal stance issue, disclosing the health issues they suffered from standing up during long shifts.
“I hated working in retail and not being able to sit all day ESPECIALLY when the store has no customers,” the worker said.
“We would lean against things instead and maybe get away with kind of sitting on the edge of the counter, lol.”
“My feet would always hurt by the end of an eight-hour shift and I wouldn’t have enough recovery time if I closed one day and opened the store the next.”
“Whenever this happened, I would literally slip my shoes off behind the counter and try to massage my feet on the edge of the bottom shelf behind the counter.”
“Let them sit!” Image Credit: Tony Pannaccio - Medium
But a handful of Reddit users disagreed, declaring employees who sit behind the registers as ‘lazy’.
“Lazy Americans,” hissed one.
“Isn’t sitting all day terrible for your health?” asked another.
One more said: “How f***ing lazy!”
So, what’s YOUR stand (no pun intended… well, maybe a little) on this feature? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Watch a brief discussion among Reddit users about the issue below:
Video Credit: @Curious Reddit