Many shoppers like self-checkout for its speed, convenience, and the limited interaction with others that it provides. But if you scan your own groceries in one Southern California city this weekend, you’ll find plenty of employees around to help you out – and keep an eye on you in the process.
A new ordinance takes effect this Sunday in the city of Long Beach, imposing new rules on stores that offer self-checkouts. Drug stores and grocery stores must have at least one staffed checkout lane available any time a self-checkout station is open. An employee monitoring the self-checkout area can be assigned no more than three stations at a time. And stores must limit self-checkout purchases to 15 items or fewer.
Opponents of the measure have called it unnecessary, burdensome, and a stealthy way to force retailers to hire more employees. Supporters say it’s a matter of safety…