Walmart Employee Choked and Threatened-71 Year-Old Employee Assaulted-Walmart Employment Double Take

If you’ve ever been to a Walmart you’ve seen the door greeters at the front of their stores. They are mostly older, retired-aged men and women who greet you with a wide smile and cheery words as you walk in the front door and then say goodbye to you as you leave. They are usually hospitable and make the customer feel comfortable in their role as door “greeters”. Knowing about retail security, I always suspected that the cheery door greeters at Walmart also doubled as “security”, in a minor way. In retail establishments, all employees should be part of loss prevention and have their eyes open for theft by customers. However, this can be a slippery slope and a dangerous one as well. Utilizing anyone not extensively trained with the dealing of criminals can be dangerous as one 71-year old Walmart greeter from Elyria, Ohio recently found out.

Elyria police say 49-year-old Toni Duncan was leaving WalMart when she was asked to show a receipt. She responded by pushing a cart into the greeter, grabbing his throat and choking him. Police finally arrived and she was charged with assault. Her daughter, 21-year-old Ashley Jackson, was charged with aggravated menacing (which means seriously threatening someone) and inducing panic. The Lorain Morning Journal newspaper reported that she's accused of saying she would blow up the store and that the greeter would be dead when her boyfriend learned of the incident.

I wonder if the 71-year-old greeter ever thought he would endure an assault and serious threats when he signed up for Walmart employment. Walmart door greeters should be just that, greeters. If they notice someone acting suspicious, the door greeter should be eyes and ears only—and notify proper security to take any action. Retailers traditionally have wanted to save money in any way they could—sometimes, foolishly.  Margins are tight in retail, even for Walmart and I understand the cost-cutting mindset. However, safety of their mostly older citizens who are greeters should never be compromised. Walmart should spend the extra money and hire friendly security guards who are trained and equipped to handle criminals who may become violent.

Walmart has been under fire from many areas. Presently, they are being sued for the alleged unequal treatment and unequal employment opportunities of their female employees. They are also thought by some people as selling out America. The thinking being that Walmart buys so many overseas manufactured products that they are hurting American working men and women.

The fact is that Walmart fills a very real need and is not as bad as some people tout. They offer affordable products and professional service to many.  However, they should be held accountable when profit blindness clouds their vision and safety and fairness are compromised.