Author: Kelly Tyko / Source: USA TODAY
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The tradition of being welcomed to Walmart by blue-vested “people greeters” will soon change at stores across the nation.
Walmart officials confirmed Wednesday that greeters, many of whom are disabled, will be replaced by “customer hosts.” The hosts, part of a program the world’s largest retailer started in 2015, will still greet customers but have added and more physically demanding responsibilities.
“As we strive to constantly improve the experience for our customers, we will need to adjust roles from time to time,” Walmart said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We’ve recently shared our plans to change the responsibilities of the people greeter role in some stores and that involves associates with disabilities in some cases.”
The Associated Press reported that affected associates were told last week that their positions would be eliminated on April 26 for the host roles. To qualify to be a host, they need to be able to lift 25-pound packages, climb ladders and stand for long periods.
Walmart said it recognizes associates with physical disabilities face “a unique situation.”
“With that in mind, we will be extending the current 60-day greeter transition period for associates with disabilities while we explore the circumstances and potential accommodations, for each individual, that can be made within each store,” Walmart said in the statement.
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