While many have praised the protocol on-line for shielding workers from aggressive prospects, some have mentioned the transfer highlights how poorly retail workers are handled.
”Since April last year, we’ve been trialling team safety cameras in a small number of stores to see if they can help prevent assaults and abuse of our team members,” a Woolworths spokesperson mentioned.
“Nobody deserves to be abused at work, so it’s important we look at new measures to help keep our team members safe.
“These cameras are used extensively in retail throughout the US and UK and have been efficient in lowering the speed of reported incidents.”
The spokesperson said cameras will “solely be turned on as a final resort” if a supervisor is concerned about a threat to team safety.
Throughout the height of the pandemic, Woolworths and most other major supermarket chains and retail stores reported a sharp spike in in-store violence and abuse.
In particular, people took issues with COVID-19 protocols like mask-wearing, social distancing and limits on products.
Answers to the most commonly Googled questions about COVID-19
Both Coles and Woolies employed full-time security in certain stores, while police also patrolled aisles around the country to monitor customer behaviour.
The bodycams have remained in some stores as a precaution.
They do need to be turned on to capture footage and audio is only recorded if a trained store supervisor deems it necessary.
Recordings are saved securely on Australian servers, with entry to the footage restricted to a small workforce of Woolworths safety specialists and legislation enforcement companies.
