WALMART has been criticized for placing signs that suggest the giant is investing in American jobs next to self-checkout counters.
Some shoppers believe the use of the machines has led to lay-offs as the retail giant relies more heavily on technology.
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“The awkward moment when you realize Walmart put these signs in the self-checkout lane…,” one Twitter user said.
Walmart confirmed last week that hundreds of workers have been laid off.
However, this has not been linked to self-checkout machines.
Walmart employees in New Jersey, Texas, California, Florida, and Pennsylvania have been let go due to a reduction or elimination in evening and weekend shifts at e-commerce fulfillment centers, a spokesperson said.
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As of 2023, Walmart employs 2.1 million people worldwide. This represents an 8.7 percent decline from 2022 when the company employed 2.3 million.
Store closures due to the rise of online shopping can also partly explain a drop in employment figures.
Walmart is due to close 15 stores in 11 states this year.
Customers and employees alike are seemingly unhappy with self-checkout machines for a variety of other reasons, however.
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In 2021, the retail giant announced plans to remove all human cashiers from stores and go fully self-checkout.
The company asserted that cashiers' roles would shift so that they would become “hosts."
They also said that the self-checkouts would be manned at all times.
Some customers have complained that this system has created unnecessary stress that hinders their shopping experience, however.
“I never use self-checkouts. You are paying them for the work that you are doing…” one Twitter user said.
“Starting July 5th, customers will be required to unload the semi-trucks at Walmart. This will be in addition to your self-checkout duties,” another Twitter user joked.
“Certainly wouldn’t surprise me!” one woman responded.
Employees have also complained that self-checkouts have led to more in-store theft.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillion confirmed in December that theft across Walmart stores was “higher than what it has historically been.”
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More than 100 customers and employees subsequently told Business Insider that, as a measure to reduce theft, Walmart should stop relying on self-checkout.
The US Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.
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