ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Retail jobs are undergoing a fundamental shift — but that doesn't mean they're getting better

Retail jobs are changing in pay and structure, but that isn't making them any easier.

  • Retail jobs are constantly evolving.
  • While warehouse and food-service jobs are beginning to come with higher wages, they're also becoming increasingly demanding.
  • Automation is an ever-looming threat as it could potentially bring big changes to retail.

Retail jobs are some of the lowest-paying jobs in the private sector.

According to a May 2017 report from Glassdoor, only the four top-paying retailers — Costco, Nordstrom, Whole Foods, and Tiffany & Co. — pay their cashiers and associates wages that are at or above the poverty level for a family of four, as calculated by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

That's changed in recent years, with retailers like Walmart and Targetbumping up (or planning to bump up) wages for their lowest-paid employees, and other employers touting their better treatment of workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

But even the good retail jobs have their flaws, it seems, as many workers are feeling the pressures that come with a changing retail landscape.

Whole Foods has long been known for its wage transparency and for its generous paid time off and health insurance options.

But the demands placed on these workers has risen along with their wages and benefits. Business Insider's Hayley Peterson reported this week that Whole Foods has instituted new inventory systems that are creating a tough environment for its workers.

Whole Foods has started using scorecards and "walks" with managers to grade employees on their performance, and these moves have had an impact on morale. The checks, combined with a new inventory management system called order-to-shelf, or OTS, have also caused food shortages on shelves and confusion for customers.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The stress has created such a tense working environment," a supervisor at a West Coast Whole Foods store said. "Seeing someone cry at work is becoming normal."

Recent labor cuts have made things even more difficult, as there often aren't enough people to manage the demanding system.

Starbucks frequently touts the benefits it offers to baristas, like tuition reimbursement and bonuses in the form of restricted Starbucks stock.

But according to a 2017 report from Business Insider's Kate Taylor, many baristas say that they are underpaid and overworked. Chronic short-staffing issues, combined with increasingly elaborate, labor-intensive specialty drinks like the Unicorn Frappuccino, have created stress for workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It's exhausting. And a lot of us can't leave, despite wanting to, because we have health insurance and scholarships," an employee said. "That's all well and good, honestly, but they really screwed us with labor and they really screwed us with our raises."

Starbucks has taken action, giving workers a raise that took effect in January. The company just announced another raise for workers that's set to take effect in April, and it expanded sick leave for all full-time and part-time workers. Parental-leave policies were also updated after baristas complained that Starbucks'

As the retail apocalypse forces more and more stores to close, warehouses catering to e-commerce sales are being built around the country, as online stores figure that they can better serve customers by being closer to them.

That can be a good thing for some workers. Data from the National Bureau of Labor Statistics says that warehouse worker jobs are on the higher end of low-paying jobs, and they even come with benefits like health insurance and 401(k) match, which traditional retail jobs often do not.

ADVERTISEMENT

But warehouse jobs still pay about 10% less than the average job nationally. Not only that, but reports suggest that working at a warehouse can be a grueling experience.

A 2016 report from t

Retail workers' jobs are increasingly seen as prime targets for automation. From burger flipping and taking orders to making sure aisles are stocked, new mechanisms are taking some loads off of workers.

At the ICR Conference in January, Jack in the Box CEO

ADVERTISEMENT

"As we see the rising costs of labor, it just makes sense" to automate certain tasks, he said.

Fast-food chains are increasingly installing kiosks that take customers' orders, replacing the need for someone to work the cash register.

There could be a bright side to this, however. Walmart, which has recently started testing robots that scan aisles for out-of-stock items, says this only takes away jobs that workers don't prefer to do anyway, freeing them up to provide help for customers.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT