Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, April 05, 2020

Walmart to limit stores to 20 percent capacity starting Today

In this taxing and uncertain time, our associates have gone above and beyond to help Americans get the food, medicine and supplies they need.
We care deeply about our associates’ health and well-being, and in recent weeks we’ve taken steps such as expanding our paid leave policies; closing our stores overnight for cleanings and restocking; installing sneeze guards and social distance markers in stores; beginning temperature checks; and starting to make gloves and masks available to associates who want them.
While many of our customers have been following the advice of the medical community regarding social distancing and safety, we have been concerned to still see some behaviors in our stores that put undue risk on our people. We want to encourage customers to bring the fewest number of people per family necessary to shop, allow for space with other customers while shopping, and practice social distancing while waiting in lines. We’re also seeing states and municipalities set varying policies regarding crowd control – which has created some confusion regarding shopping.
To promote health, safety and consistency for our associates and customers in this environment, we’re taking some further steps for our U.S. stores:
Regulating Store Entry
Starting Saturday, we will limit the number of customers who can be in a store at once. Stores will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a store’s capacity.
To manage this restriction, the associates at a store will mark a queue at a single-entry door (in most cases the Grocery entrance) and direct arriving customers there, where they will be admitted one-by-one and counted. Associates and signage will remind customers of the importance of social distancing while they’re waiting to enter a store – especially before it opens in the morning.
Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted inside on a “1-out-1-in” basis.
Shopping Inside the Store
We’ll also institute one-way movement through our aisles next week in a number of our stores, using floor markers and direction from associates. We expect this to help more customers avoid coming into close contact with others as they shop.
We’ll continue to put signage inside our stores to remind customers of the need to maintain social distancing – especially in lines. And once customers check out, they will be directed to exit through a different door than they entered, which should help lessen the instances of people closely passing each other.
We always want people to feel welcome at Walmart, and we know that in ordinary times a store is a gathering place for members of a community to connect and socialize. We look forward to the time when that is again the case; however, we now want to prioritize health and safety by encouraging customers to do their shopping at a distance from others, then head home.
As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, our leaders and operations teams will continue to listen to advice from medical experts, associates and customers, and consider how we can best serve people while helping slow the spread of the virus. The health and safety of our associates and customers is what matters the most.

32 comments:

Tamalain said...

America as we knew it is dead. Only a corpse that will carry on and fester remains. The fire and blood of a second revolution might be the only cure in some future we can not yet see.

Anonymous said...

Good luck salisbury/wicomico county! You're about to find out just how worthless your mayor, city/county council band law enforcement really are. Jake your "urbanization" of the area IS about to bite you in the ass!!

Anonymous said...

Good luck salisbury/wicomico county! You're about to find out just how worthless your mayor, city/county council and law enforcement really are. Jake your "urbanization" of the area IS about to bite you in the ass!!

Anonymous said...

That is crazy. Everyone should wear masks and gloves and get on with it.

Anonymous said...

this is absolutely ridiculous and unsustainable. wth.

Anonymous said...

I assume someone is passing along when someone leaves from a different exit to the person at the entrance, so they let another person in... you never know...

Anonymous said...

Putting limits based on sq ft may help but the real problem is what they are selling. People handling clothes, greeting cards or anything else and replacing those items on the shelf or racks is the problem. Stores should restrict their sale to essential items only. This action alone would reduce traffic and let the employees concentrate on the essential items that customers really need.

Anonymous said...

It’s about time. People are stupid and will always do stupid things. You can best believe when fall comes handling of the virus will be a lot different and more aggressive. Isolation tents and mandatory stay will be certain according to a source.

Anonymous said...


Is this over-reaction on the part of Walmart?

After seeing pics, videos and cartoons about "The People of Walmart", I'd say no.

The aisles tend to be very narrow, so limiting the occupancy is about the only viable solution.

Of course, there will still be knuckleheads that will ignore everything and just do what they want, but problems like that have a tendency to resolve themselves.

Anonymous said...

We need to stop this nonsense and get back to normal work. Everyone is taking advantage and it's plain wrong.
We live in a free republic that we are slowly losing in this panic.

Anonymous said...

We can all go out and be mindful of our habits. I was in line waiting to get into a store a week ago and two people - one in front and two people behind me - that SPIT. I would rather have been in the store than outside in a line.
But most people are aware and will adhere to standards.
BUT we have to save this economy and our jobs or our republic will be done.

Anonymous said...

I love it when restrictions are imposed on people.They stand in line because they have to and abide by all the rules.They re learn respect and decency that they either forgot or were never taught to begin with.Conformity is the key word,and most of us could use more of it.

Anonymous said...

So, if they keep fat people out, they can service more customers?

Anonymous said...

Then maybe they need to get their @hit together and have more pickup options

We have tried for over 2+ weeks to get on the pickup schedule. Only lets you choose 2 days, today and tomorrow, are your only choices and they never have an opening. You can't schedule in advance.

Ridiculous and this is only going to create more issues and put MORE people at risk standing in line in the rain, wind, etc.

Stupid at its finest.

Anonymous said...

This idea is not going to work.

Anonymous said...

If a line forms with too many people waiting to get in will the police then arrest everyone and put them in jail for their protection?

Anonymous said...

Hopefully, millennials are becoming aware of socialism as the cancer it is... this is how it goes kiddies.... see how you like it, and keep feeling"The Bern".

Anonymous said...

You know what they say when you assume, lol! Prime example genius...they only have one way in and one way out, duh..

Anonymous said...

This is a disability lawsuit in the making. They expect the disabled to wait in line? Are they going to provide somewhere for them to sit? How about those with breathing problems? Make them stand in line when they physically can't? Those who can not stand for long periods of time?

Are employees trained for this? I doubt it.

I had employee chase me down because I would not let them re-check my purchases after I just paid for them and was walking out the door.

There is absolutely no way these employees are trained to deal with disability laws.

Anonymous said...

Unless they STOCK the damn shelves there is No need to go there !!!!

Annoy said...

Is this just at the "North" Walmart? If so, people will hoard the "South" Fruitland store. Looting will begin shortly. . .watch and see

Annoy said...

If would be nice if they waived the delivery charge for orders under $35 asthid would reduce some of the people going to the store.

Anonymous said...

Is that teeth ?

Anonymous said...

Not hearing much from James Yamakawa , Socialism is here you should be bragging about how awesome it is but you stay in hiding behind your wife’s apron

Anonymous said...

I can just imagine all of the highly trained WalMart staff dealing with the trash elements who refuse to follow any rules at all. Imagine this - a flash mob sort of situation where the store is essentially stormed by a bunch of people and completely overwhelm them. Good luck with that

Anonymous said...

2% toilet paper !!! 1% food !!!!

Anonymous said...

" And once customerscheck out, they will be directed to exit through a different door than they entered, which should help lessen the instances of people closely passing each other."

Did you miss that part, Einstein?

Anonymous said...

Agreed

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree with you more.

Anonymous said...

Wal-Mart = Pathetic !!!

Anonymous said...

Now Walmart customers with pajamas on are now going to acme 18 deep with there independence card. Acme is not like Walmart people please look presentable when u go shopping. And leave your 17 kids at home . Social distancing

Anonymous said...

100,000 people or so in Wicomico county. No time limits for the few in the store, how many can go in a week? You might as well shut the doors because the riots are coming.