Why Self-Checkout is the Least of Your Concerns

I think I've heard it all...

"Self-Checkout is stealing jobs from people." NOPE. They aren't.* I work in a original size Target store and we have four self-checkouts (see above picture). Target hires people to specifically oversee the self-checkouts and it's more work and more stress than being a cashier at one register. Why? One person has to oversee four registers versus just one. Trust me, it ain't a cake walk especially when the technology fails or a guest has a question/complaint or it's a rush hour situation.

"Self-Checkout is evil." REALLY? What about human trafficking? Drug problems? Abuses? Systematic racism? Broken educational systems? I could go on and on but hopefully you catch my drift.

"If I can get your employee discount I will use the self-checkout." HUH. Don't be that person. I mean really, don't be an ass.

Listen, I'm pretty sure self-checkout isn't the thing you should be getting your panties in a twist about.

I'm serious.

Self-checkout is going to be the hill you die on? Really? I see people get seriously worked up about the self-checkouts and it makes me wonder...how worked up are they getting about people being abused? Or about people being forced into "modern day slavery"? Or the declining state of the educational system in America? Or the environment? As I said above, I could go on and on but I'm really hoping you are picking up what I'm laying down.

In the big picture is self-checkout the thing to rally against? It's a microscopic presence in your life so why are you expending so much energy on it rather on something that is worth getting worked up about? It is a brain boggler.

So what IS worth getting worked up about? Well I've already mentioned a few things, some of them more than once. And we all have a part. A part, not the whole. It doesn't rest on just our shoulders, it's a shared thing. Think, "What can I do in my own world and circles of influence to create positive change?" Do not think, "What can I do to change every single person on the planet?" One way of being worked up will bring about change, the other way will not - it will just anger and alienate people.

Anger about self-checkouts just anger and alienate people - trust me on this. And it's because in the big picture of life self-checkouts aren't worth an ounce of energy, they shouldn't even hold on a spot on anyone's list of "Things to be Worked Up About." If you are worked up about self-checkouts then you are living a tunnel-vision life. Expand your vision and really see what is worth putting energy toward.

Going to use the self-checkout? I double dare you.


*Don't just take my word for it Forbes and Zip Recruiter (among many others) have both written about it. I mean if you can't believe Forbes when it comes to business then who can you believe?! Are you going to find articles that say it is stealing jobs? Sure BUT for every one article that claims it is stealing jobs there are approximately three than support it not doing so.