Woolworths rolls out body cameras for staff despite concerns
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In a move that has stirred considerable debate, Woolworths has begun outfitting its staff with body cameras in an effort to enhance safety measures.
This initiative, which has already been implemented across New Zealand and is currently being trialled in Australia, is facing pushback from the retail workers' union.
According to Woolworths, the introduction of body cameras came as a response to a troubling rise in violence against retail staff.
The supermarket giant has cited an uptick in aggressive incidents, including physical assaults and threats involving weapons, as the impetus behind the new safety protocol.
In December, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci highlighted the severity of the situation and said, ‘We have had team members punched, spat on and other recent incidents including threats with a range of weapons from baseball bats, iron bars to knives.’
However, the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) was sceptical about the effectiveness of body cameras, as it claimed the devices are converting low-wage employees into 'walking CCTVs'.
Josh Cullinan, the Secretary of RAFFWU, voiced his opposition when he said, ‘We've not heard of any workers wanting to wear them, they're seen as a device which creates conflict rather than de-escalate or avoid conflict.’
He noted how workers must notify shoppers before recording, further antagonising them.
The union is also critical of Woolworths's approach, suggesting that the responsibility to address abuse is unfairly placed on the workers.
‘The body cams have definitely had a negative effect on workers, it's making workers a walking CCTV in circumstances where other systems to protect them are not being used,’ Cullinan said.
‘They're not cops, they're not security guards...no one wants to wear them,’ he added.
The RAFFWU argued that more substantial changes are needed, such as revising the enterprise agreements to include safety clauses and improving workplace conditions rather than relying on body cameras as a deterrent.
Woolworths has remained secretive about the specifics of the body camera rollout, declining to disclose the number of stores or team members currently using the devices.
The cameras are part of a broader package of team safety initiatives, including in-store announcements and posters to remind shoppers to treat retail staff with respect.
The controversy extends beyond Woolworths, as Coles, the nation's second-largest supermarket, has also started trialling body cams in select stores across South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland.
The outcome of these trials and whether Coles will expand the program remains to be seen.
As body camera trials and rollouts progress, we're seeing a rise in stories wherein this footage plays a significant role.
In a previous story, a supermarket was in a peculiar battle when body cam footage captured this bizarre incident and was later used as evidence in the subsequent lawsuit.
You can read more about the story here.
Have you noticed body cameras on staff during your shopping trips? Do these measures increase your sense of safety or make you uncomfortable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This initiative, which has already been implemented across New Zealand and is currently being trialled in Australia, is facing pushback from the retail workers' union.
According to Woolworths, the introduction of body cameras came as a response to a troubling rise in violence against retail staff.
The supermarket giant has cited an uptick in aggressive incidents, including physical assaults and threats involving weapons, as the impetus behind the new safety protocol.
In December, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci highlighted the severity of the situation and said, ‘We have had team members punched, spat on and other recent incidents including threats with a range of weapons from baseball bats, iron bars to knives.’
Woolworths and Coles have increased their use of body-worn cameras in order to better protect their staff from potential abuse from customers Image Source: Shutterstock / John Gomez
However, the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) was sceptical about the effectiveness of body cameras, as it claimed the devices are converting low-wage employees into 'walking CCTVs'.
Josh Cullinan, the Secretary of RAFFWU, voiced his opposition when he said, ‘We've not heard of any workers wanting to wear them, they're seen as a device which creates conflict rather than de-escalate or avoid conflict.’
He noted how workers must notify shoppers before recording, further antagonising them.
The union is also critical of Woolworths's approach, suggesting that the responsibility to address abuse is unfairly placed on the workers.
‘The body cams have definitely had a negative effect on workers, it's making workers a walking CCTV in circumstances where other systems to protect them are not being used,’ Cullinan said.
‘They're not cops, they're not security guards...no one wants to wear them,’ he added.
The RAFFWU argued that more substantial changes are needed, such as revising the enterprise agreements to include safety clauses and improving workplace conditions rather than relying on body cameras as a deterrent.
Woolworths has remained secretive about the specifics of the body camera rollout, declining to disclose the number of stores or team members currently using the devices.
The cameras are part of a broader package of team safety initiatives, including in-store announcements and posters to remind shoppers to treat retail staff with respect.
The controversy extends beyond Woolworths, as Coles, the nation's second-largest supermarket, has also started trialling body cams in select stores across South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland.
The outcome of these trials and whether Coles will expand the program remains to be seen.
As body camera trials and rollouts progress, we're seeing a rise in stories wherein this footage plays a significant role.
In a previous story, a supermarket was in a peculiar battle when body cam footage captured this bizarre incident and was later used as evidence in the subsequent lawsuit.
You can read more about the story here.
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