Working in modern retail can be surprisingly physically demanding. According to Walmart's CFO, John David Rainey, warehouse employees can walk up to 10 miles a day and lift thousands of pounds, with the help of AI-powered robots. Retail work typically involves long hours of standing, but employees responsible for picking online orders or restocking may quickly rack up miles. With the use of activity trackers like Apple Watches, Fitbits, and smartphones, workers can track how far they've walked during shifts at large stores.
On Reddit, Target employees have shared impressive step counts, often surpassing the 10 miles mentioned by Walmart's CFO. A typical Target store covers around 125,000 square feet, slightly larger than two football fields, and a lap around a field is about a quarter of a mile. It's common to see workers sharing screenshots showing daily step counts of 20,000, with some reaching 40,000 during busy times like the holidays or Target Circle Week. One Reddit user boasted, "This week I broke my record & hit 40,000 steps in one day— gotta love Circle Week!" For someone of average height, 20,000 to 40,000 steps is equivalent to walking 10 to 20 miles or 40 to 80 laps around a track.
Another user commented, "My highest was 24,790 in a 4-hour shift. I literally don't know how I did it but fulfillment made me lose a TON of weight." Similarly, a USPS letter carrier in Tennessee stated in a CNBC report from 2021 that he usually walked 14 miles a day. Clove, a specialty shoemaker, has highlighted several other occupations with high step counts, with healthcare workers leading, as some hospital staff may reach 60,000 steps—or 30 miles—during a 12-hour shift.
Tracking devices don't differentiate between on- and off-the-clock steps. A Target spokesperson informed Business Insider that although the company estimates time and distance for task assignments, it doesn't track individual employees' movements during the day. Target, like many companies, includes mandatory breaks during shifts, allowing staff time to sit, eat, and hydrate. Although the distance covered sounds daunting, one employee mentioned that fulfilling online orders involves "a more active type of walking compared to stocking," noting that it might be more comfortable for some individuals.
On Reddit, a user requested shoe recommendations, saying, "My converse are not comfy enough for the over 20k steps I take a shift." Peers suggested shoes from Hoka and New Balance, while some recommended $10 running shoes from Walmart. Given the widening use of fitness trackers, it's unclear how these numbers are trending, but online sales figures suggest they may be increasing. Target fulfills 95% of its digital orders from its stores, unlike Amazon which uses fulfillment centers. As more customers shop online and choose curbside pick-up, employees find themselves running around the store to fulfill these orders.