Loblaw is launching a pilot program that will see employees at two Calgary locations don body-worn cameras in an effort to increase safety.

“Violent encounters at retail locations across the country have increased dramatically in recent years,” explained Loblaw Companies Ltd. in a statement to CTV News.

“By piloting body cameras, we continue to do what we can to protect our customers and team.”

The participating Calgary stores are the Real Canadian Superstore in the East Village on Sixth Avenue S.E., and the Shoppers Drug Mart next door.

  • Noloafing@lemmy.ca
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    8 hours ago

    Loblaws really doesn’t want my business. I stopped shopping there in May and haven’t had a need to go back. If they are going to treat customers like pre-criminals I don’t want to give them the time of day.

  • Nik282000@lemmy.ca
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    14 hours ago

    Uhhh, are they going to be paying the cammed employees more than uncammed?

    Are there policies in place that ensure that footage will ONLY be used for safety and that the company will not use the cameras to police employees?

    We’ve seen a growth in violence against police and peace officers in public spaces over the last number of years, and that’s carried straight on through to private spaces…

    Yes there is increasing violence against the 2 major sources of pain for the most desperate members of society, thanks for noticing.

    • Pandemanium@lemm.ee
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      3 hours ago

      Wait so according to that quote, if increased police presence in public spaces creates increased violence, the answer is… more police in public spaces? And therefore more violence… This feels insane.

  • Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net
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    15 hours ago

    Literally willing to spends ridiculous amounts of money on programs like this rather than dropping their prices

  • brax@sh.itjust.works
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    16 hours ago

    They should try lowering prices and paying their workers better. I suspect that would drive down violence far more than cameras.

    But this probably has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with employee surveillance with a pinch of voyeurism.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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      16 hours ago

      But this probably has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with employee surveillance with a pinch of voyeurism.

      Yup. I worked for them many years ago. The shit I saw made me forego ever shopping there again.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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          15 hours ago

          I worked there over 35 years ago so what I saw then is no longer valid now. I just don’t shop there now because they’re even worse assholes than back then.

          • cheese_greater@lemmy.world
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            15 hours ago

            At the time tho, what are the highlights of shitty that made you feel like that? Totally believe it but just wanna hear the origin haha

          • Grass@sh.itjust.works
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            14 hours ago

            I worked there less long ago and they were still bad, and indeed worse now. Some of the lifers are still there and still nice people, but man can you ever tell by looking how miserable they have been.