'Our goal is to see an overall decrease in violent encounters in these stores'
Loblaws is expanding its pilot project of having workers wear body cameras to enhance their safety at work.
The grocery giant now has managers and security at two stores in Saskatchewan – Confederation Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart on 22nd Street – wearing the equipment, according to reports.
"Violent encounters at retail locations across the country have increased dramatically in recent years," Loblaw Companies said in a statement about the decision to use bodycams, according to CBC.
The employer will also ensure that those wearing the body cameras have enough knowledge to use the device effectively, it said.
“Our asset protection/security team and the on-duty store manager will be trained to use the cameras effectively in their roles,” Loblaws said in a statement, according to Global News.
“We are taking these steps to increase safety and reduce risks for our customers and colleagues in certain areas where criminal activities are more prominent. Our goal is to see an overall decrease in violent encounters in these stores.”
Previously, employees have donned the equipment at Real Canadian Superstore, located in the Confederation neighbourhood at 411 Confederation Drive, and the adjacent Shoppers Drug Mart, according to CBC.
Two Loblaws stores in Calgary also have staff wearing body cameras, said Global News.
This comes as property crime in Confederation Suburban Centre in Saskatoon has increased significantly.
“The most significant increase was due to Shoplifting Under $5000 specifically at one commercial business. (751 incidents in 2023 occurred at a single commercial business),” according to a joint report from the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD). “These types of reports reflect crime occurring in the area, but can also be affected by businesses and their respective design, policies, and reporting practices.”
Previously, the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario dealt with a manager’s claim that she was wrongfully dismissed after she failed to report her own workplace accident as required by the employer’s policy.
Will body cameras keep grocery workers safe?
One customer told Global News that body cameras on grocery workers may not be a bad idea.
“This area is kind of iffy, so it might not be a bad idea to have something like that here,” Superstore shopper Lucy Jordan said. “(Crime) is the scary part of what’s going on now. It’s not really safe to go anywhere. I don’t go anywhere after dark.”
Eric Laming, an assistant professor of criminology at Trent University, also said that Loblaw’s move may help make customers safe.
“It might have some fringe benefits in helping customers feel safe,” he told CBC. This can help prosecute people stealing or committing other crimes at the stores, he said.
“Whether that actually translates into actually increasing safety will be a different thing to determine."
Two teenagers working at Gateway Co-op grocery in Saskatchewan were poisoned on the job last year.
