My friend's job at the local grocery store got cut from 40 hours to 15 after they put in self-checkout lanes.

This happened over about six months last year. They started with four new self-checkout stations in the front. At first, they just said it was to help with lines. Then, they slowly cut hours for three cashiers, including my friend. Now there's only one regular lane open most days. It feels like the promise of 'new tech jobs' is just empty talk for the people actually losing work. Has anyone else seen this happen in their town?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah_west21d ago

Look at the big picture though. Self-checkout means the store can stay open longer and maybe even lower prices for everyone. Those cashier jobs were always going to change. Maybe your friend can learn to fix the machines or manage the self-checkout area. Progress is hard but we can't just stop new tech to save a few old jobs. The store has to compete or it closes and then everyone loses.

johnr7321d ago

Seen this hollow out every main street.

alicesingh12d ago

Hannah's right about the big picture, but it's the small details that add up. You lose the person who knows your kid's favorite cereal or spots a mistake on your bill. The tech works, but the human stuff just quietly disappears.