10-17-2024
Home Depot announced a policy that requires its corporate employees to take one work shift every quarter in a retail store. CEO Ted Decker wrote a memo notifying employees about the 8-hour shift that each will work. This practice is designed to support the retail staff because white-collar employees will "truly understand the challenges and opportunities" store associates face each day. Every corporate staff member, from senior management to remote workers, will participate. Anyone working a retail job knows it is not easy because of staffing issues, standing for long hours, and experiencing rude customer behavior. Management hopes this practice will foster empathy, better decision-making, and a more cohesive company culture by creating an improved understanding of these challenges. (Forbes)
Bloomberg referred to the new rule as "unusual" and asserted it is a response to the pressure of increased labor activism. In addition, the company saw a sales slump since the height of the pandemic when there were large investments in home renovations. Forbes noted this shift experience had been in place before the pandemic but was suspended due to safety concerns. The publication suggests that if corporate employees perceive this policy as punitive or the company does not provide adequate preparation for corporate employees, it could cause discontent or more divisions within the company. For example, corporate staff may struggle with customer interactions, product knowledge, and service protocols. These issues may impact the customer experience and store operations.
DoorDash has a similar policy. Each employee must complete a food delivery once a month. Similarly, the company wants staff members to deepen their understanding of the product and how their decisions affect the Dashers (delivery people), customers, and merchants. With this practice, everyone shares a common language on the experience of handling deliveries.