Why in the World Are Walmart Employees Wearing Body Cams? Explained

Walmart is one of the largest grocery chains in America, and they just took a giant leap forward in security that has some people wondering what the heck is going on.

Select Walmart locations have started testing having employees wear body cameras while they work. You will know which Walmart locations are participating, because there will be a sign on the front doors saying that the employees have body cams.

Walmart says that the body cam testing is not to try to deter shoplifters as much as it's to ensure the safety of its employees while they are on the clock.

How Will Body Cams at Walmart Work?

If an employee is having an interaction with a customer out on the floor, and the interaction is a normal one, the body cam won't be activated.

Walmart is telling their associates with body cams that if an interaction with a customer starts to escalate for any reason, they are to turn on their body cam, and then immediately after the interaction, they should go to the manager's office and upload the footage.

There have been several large retailers, including Target and T.J. Maxx, that have dabbled with employee body cams, but those were mainly for shoplifting purposes.

While that might be the case with Walmart, they are masking it by saying it's mainly for employee safety.

It kind of goes without saying, but Walmart also warns employees with body cams not to record in the bathroom or employee break areas.

With the body cam and now even Meta glasses out there in the world, there is always someone watching, always. Behave.