How Shoplifting Affects Walmart Employees
On the night of March 6th, 2017 at a Walmart in Battle Ground, Washington, a robbery took place. Three teens stole more than $300 dollars in liquor, after coming into the store three times.
Two of the teens left the third teen in the car. They went in and assaulted a employee who was trying to stop them. Now identified, the teens will be brought to court, charged with assault and robbery.
That occurrence is just a symptom that’s all too common after the Battle Ground Walmart laid off or moved most of its security staff. There is now only one person in charge of security at the store.
Not only are there problems with shoplifters, there are issues with security in general at this Walmart.
Assistant Manager Blaine Coleman said he “100% believes that shoplifting and security concerns have gone up” since the store got rid of most of its security.
What people don’t know is the impact on the employees at Walmart.
When Walmart loses products to shoplifters, it’s called “shrink” by the company. While the shoplifting obviously affects the income of the store, it also impacts employees directly. Their three month bonuses, called “MyShare,”are cut.
Tyler Santella, a new employee, said that “it really pisses me off” when people steal from the store and employee pay is impacted. His first day happened to be the same day when the Walmart associate was assaulted, and feels he “is inclined to stop shoplifters from shoplifting.”
But Will White, a seasoned Walmart veteran, said he doesn’t feel inclined to stop shoplifting, because “it isn’t worth the trouble,” including getting hurt. White said he feels “it’s a low amount taken out of our bonus,” so it’s not worth stopping the shoplifters.
White stated that the security problem has gotten worse since Walmart decided to get rid of its security. Last 4th of July, for example, a person came in without pants, put a brand new pair on in the clothing center, and walked out of the store.
And on December 5th, 2016, a man was caught taking photos of a woman in the bathroom. Without security, when he was apprehended, he simply left the store.
Many similar incidents have happened recently. White feels that people catch on to the fact that there isn’t enough security and feel better about stealing.
Under Walmart policy, it is recommended that an employee doesn’t confront shoplifters or security threats.
Phillip Saldivas, who also works at the Walmart, saw the most recent robbery and assault. According to him, the employee walked up to the teenagers who were stealing Malibu Rum. They took off, with the employee trying to grab the backpack.
Losing one bottle, one teen was able to escape to the parking lot, where employees can’t go. The second shoplifter took another route, opposite from the first. When the employee stopped by the door, with the fallen bottle in hand, he was blindsided by the other teen. The associate was hit, colliding with a pillar by the door and falling to the ground.
Saldivas believes “if we had the security we had this time a year ago, none of this would have happened.”
Coleman, the assistant manager, agrees. He said Walmart's reasoning for getting rid of most of its security is that the store has moved to the “M.P.P system.” The M.P.P system is a Merchandise Protection Program, which uses tags, chips, locks, and beepers to protect merchandise.
While the Merchandise Protection Program is supposed to help stop and deter shoplifting, it actually is “ineffective and won’t stop stolen items,” Coleman said. He said “without having security, we rely on the M.P.P to do the job they did, and so far it has shown to not have much effect.”
With shoplifting on the rise at the store, will Walmart bring back or hire more people for security? The employees hope so, due to security directly affecting them and their jobs.
