Rhode Island Becomes First State to Limit Self-Checkouts at Grocery Stores
“Grocery stores that violate the law can be fined based on the wages for one full shift at the highest hourly pay rate, up to $1,000 per day.”
Is this just a gift to unions to protect jobs? That’s what it looks like.
WPRI News reports:
RI becomes first state to establish grocery self-checkout limits
Rhode Island is now the first state in the country to implement self-checkout lane restrictions at grocery stores.
Gov. Dan McKee joined local workers and leaders in Providence Thursday to publicly sign the Restrictions on “Self-Service Checkout Stations Act” into law. It initially passed in the Senate last month, but a revised version was sent back by the House on June 10. The Senate passed the amended bill the next day, advancing it to McKee’s desk.
“Today, we’re protecting jobs and strengthening customer service,” McKee said. “Whether it’s helping a customer with an issue, assisting a senior, or ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, this law is about preserving choice and keeping people at the center of the shopping experience.”
Under the new legislation, all grocery stores in the state will be required to have one manually staffed cashier lane for every three self-checkout stations. It also limits the tasks a worker can be assigned, stating that their employer must relieve them of all other duties — including running a manual lane — while monitoring self-checkout stations. Additionally, one manual cashier lane must always be open in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Grocery stores that violate the law can be fined based on the wages for one full shift at the highest hourly pay rate, up to $1,000 per day. If a store continues not to comply after being notified of a violation, it may face more penalties under the state consumer protection laws.
Employees and consumers are entitled to file complaints with the R.I. Department of Labor & Training without fear of retaliation if they notice a store is out of compliance, according to the legislation.
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Comments
Well I was afraid they were going to ban them but these seem okay after a quick read. I prefer self-checkout. I wish all the grocery stores here had them.
Save jobs, raise prices. Increase minimum wages raise prices. I thought DemoncRats were foe affordability. I guess that’s a campaign slogan like everything else DemoncRats promise.
I’m sure Rhode Island’s hippie boomers are waving their canes and walkers in glee.
By October, they’ll be complaining that their Social Security is no longer sufficient to buy their groceries, absolutely oblivious as to how that happened.
it would be fine for the state to publish ‘guidelines,’ but meddling in the economy up to and including actually penalizing business owners for not abjectly obeying is anti-free-enterprise.
government has no business in the economy, including odious minimum wage laws. such laws make mouth-breathers happy, who don’t notice all the out of work teens it creates.
teens need entry-level part time jobs to learn to be punctual, take training, be reliable, act like adults and decide what to do with their pay.
dimwits who think all jobs must pay enough to raise a family, buy cars and pay for college are part of the problem.
notice: there is no such thing as a business tax. yep. I said that. the tax on corporate profits is put onto the price of the product, and we pay it again. today’s corporations can be thought of a tax-collectors.
but scads of you whine that corporations aren’t paying enough taxes. how ignorant is that? is that ignorant enough for you? d’ye like how ignorant that is?
government out of the economy! lower taxes by 80%! cut spending with laser beams!
Not really needed. Walmart here has already taken out all self checkout lanes. They were being robbed blind.
Depends on the neighborhood. Although my Publix in Orlando has had an armed security guard for the last 6 months. But I don’t think he has to do anything other than look big and scary. Which he does well.
Even accidental missed scans add up to a lot of free stuff going out the door..
Self checkouts would be fine if those using them would also get the employee discount, since we’re providing free work for the store.