Walmart is piloting a program using body cameras for store associates at some U.S. locations. Signs warn customers about the "body-worn cameras in use," and at least one store in Denton, Texas, has confirmed the practice.
While Walmart declined to provide specifics about the program's scope, a spokesperson stated it's a test in one market to evaluate the technology's effectiveness. Unlike smaller retailers using body cameras primarily for theft deterrence, Walmart intends to prioritize worker safety.
Internal documents instruct staff to record escalating customer interactions, avoid using the devices in break areas and bathrooms and log incidents in an "ethics and compliance app" after discussing them with a team member. The timing of the pilot coincides with the busy and often stressful holiday shopping season when customer interactions can become particularly tense.
This move has sparked debate. While proponents like the National Retail Federation believe the cameras can de-escalate conflict due to the awareness of being recorded (especially with cameras featuring a reverse view monitor showing the individual being recorded), others are skeptical.
Retail union president Stuart Appelbaum expressed concern that the cameras are more about surveillance and theft deterrence than genuine worker safety. He emphasized the need for de-escalation training, safe staffing levels, and panic buttons instead of relying solely on cameras.
Workers' organization United for Respect echoed this sentiment, arguing that cameras are no substitute for proper training and could even provoke further conflict, particularly given existing instances of violence against workers at self-checkout kiosks. They also pointed out the existing presence of store surveillance cameras.
The National Retail Federation, however, cited positive feedback from retailers who have used body cameras, noting a reduction in conflict due to altered behavior when people know they are being recorded. They also see it as part of a broader trend of retailers seeking to improve safety and deter theft, alongside measures like locked merchandise displays.
Former Sears Canada CEO Mark Cohen suggested that Walmart’s pilot is likely driven by employee concerns about safety and a desire to demonstrate a commitment to their well-being.
However, a former retail employee expressed doubt that body cameras would have prevented the threats and harassment they experienced, suggesting a stronger police presence would have been more effective.
The National Retail Federation’s 2022 security survey revealed that 35% of responding retailers were researching body cameras, with 11% piloting or testing them. TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods) confirmed they began using body cameras for loss prevention associates, citing their effectiveness in reducing inventory loss. TJX emphasized thorough training for associates using the cameras and stated that footage is only shared with law enforcement or in response to a subpoena. They framed the use of body cameras as one aspect of their broader efforts to maintain a safe store environment.