Supermarket Perimeter - June 2022 - 62

OPERATIONS
Companies
that have made
safety their
highest priority
during the
pandemic have
benefited from
fewer workers
out sick and
greater loyalty.
will continue to invest in the best,
most leading-edge technology
available.
WORKER SAFETY
by John Unrein
AS PART OF ITS CONTINUED
FOCUS ON ASSOCIATE SAFETY,
Walmart seeks out innovative
technology to make the job
easier and more efficient. Several
years ago, the company began
pursuing a more data-centric
approach to associate safety.
They landed on StrongArm
Technologies and their FUSE
Risk Management Platform.
Their safety wearables were
easy to integrate into Walmart's
existing routine across multiple
job functions. The data provided
was intuitive and actionable,
according to Walmart.
" From the beginning, we were
transparent with associates about
the goal behind deploying FUSE,
a small sensor worn between
their shoulder blades they'd
soon forget was even there. We
wanted them to understand
what the device is measuring
(and what it's not), why we're
deploying it and how it works.
Once they understood that it's a
tool for their benefit, the adoption
happened quickly, " Walmart said.
" Within the first year of deploying
FUSE, targeted, ergonomicrelated
injuries decreased by
nearly 65% across participating
associates. "
Associates wearing the FUSE
sensors have a safety score as
a benchmark. The higher they
score from 0-100 every shift,
the safer they'd been. Just as
importantly, the data provides
management with information to
heap praise on those associates
who are safety leaders day in and
day out. Going forward, Walmart
Teens in the workforce
Over the past five decades, the
number of teens in the workforce
dwindled, according to a new
report from The Food Institute.
That is, until last year when
businesses squeezed by labor
shortages decided more youthful
employees would fill the gap
created by adult workers giving
up low-paying jobs as they
reassessed their options during
the pandemic.
" Often, these diamonds in the
rough [teen employees] work
better than tenured adults, "
Addison Riddleberger, head of
marketing for corporate cooking
workshop firm Rockoly, told
The Food Institute. " Ultimately,
being a good employee is
far less complex than most
teenagers think. "
The U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics estimates that more than
5.2 million workers between the
ages of 16 and 19 are in the labor
force, roughly 3% of all workers.
Nearly half, 2.1 million, are in
service jobs while 1.5 million are
in food preparation or servingrelated
jobs. The Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis estimated 36.6%
of teenagers are working.
Best Workplaces award
For six consecutive years, Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine have ranked Wegmans Food Markets on the list of the Best
Workplaces in Retail. The award is based on analysis of survey responses from more than 1.3 million current employees working in
the retail industry.
" The family feel across our company defines who we are at Wegmans, and continues to help us earn this special recognition, " said
Colleen Wegman, president and chief executive officer of Wegmans Food Markets. " We are extremely grateful to our people for all
they do for each other and our customers. This award means the world to all of us. "
The Best Workplaces in Retail stand out for creating great workplaces for all employees, regardless of position or other personal
characteristics.
62 - JUNE 2022
supermarketperimeter.com
WALMART, WEGMANS

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Supermarket Perimeter - June 2022

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