Could Body Cams Be Worn By Walmart Employees for Safety In Mo?

Retail theft is a significant issue. The National Retail Federation estimates retailers lost an estimated $112.1 billion due to shrinkage in 2022. This includes losses from shoplifting, employee theft, fraud, and operational errors. These losses have caused store closures, products for sale kept behind locked glass, upgraded security, and more. While security cameras have been part of anti-theft deterrents for years, the body cam, which police officers wear, may now be coming into play.

TJX Companies, the parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, announced last June that it was equipping employees with body cameras to thwart theft. They told Fox Business then that loss prevention employees wear the cameras to "de-escalate incidents, deter crime, and demonstrate to associates and customers that they take safety in our stores seriously."

Now, Walmart is testing body cameras worn by employees at multiple stores near Denton, Texas, about 40 miles north of Dallas. However, Walmart might be using the body cams slightly differently than TJX Companies. A person familiar with the test project told Fox Business that the test is part of a more holistic safety and security program and isn't specifically designed as an anti-theft measure.

If Walmart isn't using body cams for anti-theft, they might be employing cameras to protect employees from customer abuse or monitor managerial behavior towards staff. Both of which, I think, are good things. Customer service, especially retail or any service work, is difficult. Anything that backs up the people in these jobs and makes their day a little easier is A-OK by me.

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Will we ever see Walmart employees in Missouri wearing body cams? It's possible, but at this point, it's too early to say. A Walmart spokesperson told Fox Business that the program is still in its early stages and that the retail giant will evaluate its results before making any longer-term decisions about its use.

If it makes life easier for Walmart's employees, reduces shrink, and deescalates situations with challenging customers I'm all for it.