Walmart has decided to do away with the position of door greeter as of April 2019. If you have ever been to a Walmart, you have seen one of their greeters. This was long a job that otherwise-disabled people could do. The elimination of this position could mean more disabled without jobs.
Change of Title, Change of Duties
Walmart is expanding the former role of greeter to include several new duties. Walmart called the new position customer host. The people working as hosts will do such things as assist customers and work security. Walmart says that a person applying to be a host must be able to lift up to 25 pounds and stand for long periods of time. Hosts may also be required to collect carts and even climb ladders.
Walmart Not Alone In Demanding More From Workers
This move by Walmart is consistent with what other large employers are doing. It is increasingly rare to find a job that has a single duty. Companies expect their workers to stay busy doing a lot of different tasks. This means that such traditionally sedentary jobs as a receptionist may no longer be sedentary. A receptionist, for example, might be required to move heavy Amazon packages when they are not answering phones or dealing with visitors.
A Changing Workplace
Social Security needs to be aware that the workplace is evolving, often in ways that eliminate work that the disabled might have been able to do. This action by one of the largest employers in America shows that.
