Walmart is making changes to policies for its store greeters with disabilities after some of those workers said their jobs were in jeopardy.
The policy tweak over the weekend came after recent backlash on social media. A 2016 Walmart policy shift changed the responsibilities for greeters, which led to worries among some workers with disabilities that they would lose their jobs. Those workers will now get more time to find new jobs within the company.
“We recognize that our associates with physical disabilities face a unique situation,” said Walmart spokesperson Justin Rushing. “This allows associates to continue their employment at the store as valued members of the team while we seek an acceptable, customized solution for all of those involved.”
Walmart greeters
Greeters at the entrance of stores have been a staple of Walmart since the early 1980s, when founder Sam Walton created the job based on a Louisiana store worker’s suggestion.
“Greeters are a big part of our company and culture,” Walmart said in 2016. “Providing customers with an excellent first impression is part of Walmart’s broader strategy to ensure simpler, more convenient shopping.”