Retail workers wearing body cams to battle shrinkage
Since late last year, the retail brands under TJX have been outfitting hourly workers with police-style body cameras.
In an effort to disincentivize theft, loss prevention associate job openings at TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls stores across the US now include the responsibility of wearing a body cam.
TJX probably won't be the last retailer to add body cams to company uniforms. 35% of retailers said they were considering implementing them in a National Retail Federation survey last year. 11% were already testing them.
Security experts have pointed out that cameras already exist in stores and aren't much of a deterrent against theft (most of which happens at self-checkout lanes anyway). To be effective, body cameras would require hourly workers to get close to potential shoplifters — putting themselves at risk.
TJX probably won't be the last retailer to add body cams to company uniforms. 35% of retailers said they were considering implementing them in a National Retail Federation survey last year. 11% were already testing them.
Security experts have pointed out that cameras already exist in stores and aren't much of a deterrent against theft (most of which happens at self-checkout lanes anyway). To be effective, body cameras would require hourly workers to get close to potential shoplifters — putting themselves at risk.
