Our Union has often advised our members about the problem of “sweethearting.”
Sweethearting happens when a cashier lets a friend or colleague take an item without paying the proper price. It is a form of theft.
Sometimes a cashier will pass an item through without scanning it. Or they will scan one item and then let another go through unscanned.
In other situations, a cashier might use a coupon inappropriately or punch in the code for a lower-priced item.
Retailers all across the country say sweethearting costs them billions of dollars annually in lost revenues. So it’s no surprise employers take it seriously when an employee is guilty of this easy-to-prove practice.
Now we are reading about a new facial recognition system which reportedly can detect when retail workers have “anomalous” interactions with customers.
A company called Corsight AI says its system tracks how each customer interacts with different employees over long periods of time. It then analyzes how close customers stand to different employees and whether returning customers consistently go to the same employee when they visit a store. Anomalies trigger alerts to store security staff, who decide how to proceed.
A member could be falsely accused based on the incorrect assumption a customer who shows loyalty to a particular salesperson is a sign of wrongdoing.
Whether or not this system is functioning at your store, it is important not to engage in sweethearting.
Protect your Union job with strong wages, health benefits, a pension and more. Follow company policies and consult your Union contract. Your Union will continue to advocate for you and ensure your rights are protected.
If you have any questions, talk to your UFCW 8 District Union Representative.
