California bill may get rid of self-checkout lanes at grocers, certain retailers

Restrictions on the availability of self-checkout options at grocery stores and certain retailers are suggested by a recently introduced bill in California. The goal of this program is to address the industry’s growing theft rate.

Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas’s Senate Bill 1446 would not totally ban self-service checkouts. It does, however, specify certain conditions for their continuous use. One important requirement is that an employee must be fully committed to managing no more than two self-checkout stations, and they cannot supervise more than one.

The bill regulates more than just current technology. Additionally, it requires grocers and some retailers to evaluate how future technological developments—especially those involving artificial intelligence—may affect their workforce. This evaluation would ascertain whether the technology considerably impedes essential job functions or even results in the elimination of positions.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas highlights the monetary damages linked to theft from self-checkout machines. She presents data that indicates self-service lanes lose an astounding $10 billion a year—a 16-fold increase over traditional checkouts run by cashiers.

In addition to the financial implications, the senator voiced concerns about worker safety. She draws attention to the heightened susceptibility of self-checkout station employees, who frequently have to handle several responsibilities at once, such as stocking shelves, running checkouts, and helping patrons, all while trying to keep an eye out for theft.

This suggestion to remove self-checkout machines in order to reduce theft is not an isolated incident. For similar reasons, major retailers such as Walmart have already started reducing the number of self-checkout options available. Another retailer, Five Below, has completely switched to associate-assisted checkouts at every location in response to theft concerns.