Originally posted by EndofSilence
It's sad to say but it just comes down to $$$.
That is the nail on the head.
I've been sitting here thinking how hard could it be to incorporate a ccd cam into a cash register display pole, shelving endcap or any other common device. Not that hard. But, the problem would be selling that to a corporation only concerned with the bottom line. The store I work for has 14 cams. Most of them are old out of date b&w ccd's that are not pointed where they should be. But corporations are not concerned with employee safety, they are concerned with employee theft from said corporation. Insurance covers shoplifters or tax breaks cover inventory shrinkage.
When I worked for Centennial FW&S in Dallas I assisted with the remodel of several stores. When we installed the surveillence systems I positioned the cams to what I thought would give maximum coverage. When corporate came to inspect the job they repositioned every camera so it would watch employees, not customers. They zeroed the checkout cams into the cash drawers and did not even give view of the customers. Within a few months we had several thefts that we could not ID suspects because the cams were out of position. If there was an armed robbery you would see the cashier pulling money out of the tills closeup but you would not see who they gave the money to.
What I was told was the mere presence of cameras was a deterrent to theives all on it's own. If you really want to know most of the cameras you can see at a store are not hooked up to anything, but you can bet your butt they have cams watching where employees can get away with something. What they wanted was cameras watching employees, "Big Brother" for lack of a better term. What it all boils down to is employee safety is not a profit margin item. Watching employees is. From personal experience I can estimate the system at her DG store cost less than $1000.
They look at the bill for installing a top notch surveillence system versus a budget "just get by" bottom of the line system. Why spend $10,000 when you can spend $1000? So what if somebody loses their life? You saved $9000 per and got a promotion out of the deal for cutting costs. You can also write off the inventory shrinkage on your taxes, you can't write off squat for a dead employee. Just because an employee got killed does not cost you a penny. As a matter of fact you save money because it most likely was a senior employee earning more than a new hire to replace them will. Also, most sytems use stop motion to save even more on tape (in older systems) or hard drive space (in newer systems). You know tapes and large drives are expensive (cough).
Now what do you think the shareholders are more concerned with, employee safety or return on investment? Yeah, DGinc has offered a $10,000 reward for the deaths of 2 employees (with strings attached so they can weasel out of it) that will most likely never be claimed. But, it looks good in the papers and it's less expensive than putting a top notch system in every store.
On another note, if you have not watched the linked video of Shiela's daughter I really wish you would. This 17 year old girl is mature far beyond her years. As soon as she turns 18 we are setting up a fund for her and her brother and sister. This is an exceptional young woman that definitely has her mother's will and spirit. I can not think of a more worthy cause than supporting her in keeping her family together.
If you do not already know, her older sister is a quadrapalegic with Cerebal Palsy. Trust me, just daily care of her sister would bring most grown men to their knees, not to mention the trips to the doctors, surgeries (which she has had many and will continue to have) and related medical requirements. Her little brother is 3 years old.
Jenn does not go on dates. She does not go to school dances. She does not get to hang out at the mall. She does not get to do any of the things you would expect an average teenage girl to experience. She watches her family and gives them the attention they require. This young woman desreves a Medal of Honor for above and far, far beyond the call of duty. Their father is a useless alcoholic, (who BTW is under investigation from the SSA and IRS for keeping SSI checks for his handicapped child and spending it on himself, not the child) which is why they are living with a family friend. (Would you let someone else take your children because it's too much trouble to do it yourself?) I have to give them the greatest of honor for their efforts as well.
I'll let everyone know when we set up the fund with Jenn in sole control as soon as she turns 18. I have rewritten my will and I'm leaving everything to Jenn. I can't think of anyone in the world that would be more deserving.
