Thank you, Megan!
The legislation (2026-S 2342B, 2026-H 7290A) requires grocery stores with self-checkouts
to have a minimum of one staffed checkout for every three self-checkouts
operating, with at least one of the self-checkout stations meeting the
accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It also requires that grocery store employees be relieved of
all other duties, including operating a manual checkout station, while
monitoring self-checkout stations.
President Lawson and Representative Cotter said they
introduced the bill out of concern for those who work as cashiers, and for
customers who struggle with frustrating self-checkout experiences, particularly
elderly customers.
“Overreliance on self-service checkouts is frustrating for customers and the workers who are manually covering self-checkout stations on top of all their other job duties. We’ve all experienced an issue using a self-service checkout and had to wait for an overtaxed employee to come over to resolve it, an experience that can be far more challenging for elderly members of the community,” said President Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “This bill would provide options for the consumer by making sure staffed checkout lanes are always available while also improving the store environment for workers and consumers.”
“In addition to the frustration and inconvenience
self-checkouts represent to many shoppers, this is a jobs issue. Self-checkouts
are specifically used to reduce the number of people that stores employ, and
the number of hours that their employees work. As cashiers move from full time
to part time, many are forced to turn to government assistance like Medicaid
and food stamps,” said Representative Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond,
Hopkinton). “The big corporations that own grocery chains no doubt hope the
public will just slowly continue to accept this effort, but many people still
want the advantages of checking out with a real human being. This bill places a
limit on this trend and ensures that those who want to check out with a human
can do so.”
The bill contains exemptions for off-peak hours before 8
a.m. and after 8 p.m. and during a declared state of emergency.
“Today, we’re protecting jobs and strengthening customer
service,” said Governor McKee. “Whether it’s helping a customer with an issue,
assisting a senior or ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, this
law is about preserving choice and keeping people at the center of the shopping
experience. I’m proud to see Rhode Island become the first state in the country
with a statewide requirement on self-checkouts, proving that in the Ocean State
it’s a priority to protect our workers and consumers. I thank the bill sponsors
and all the members of UFCW Local 328 for getting this bill over the finish
line.”
Increased use of self-checkouts has allowed grocery stores
to rely more heavily on part-time employees, positions that do not provide
retail workers with a living wage or access to benefits. There are costs to the
public as well, since many retail workers, particularly those with a part-time
schedule, qualify and receive income-based public benefits such
as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (formally known as food
stamps) and subsidized health care. Additionally, the move disproportionately
harms people of color, who are overrepresented in cashier positions, typically the
lowest-paid positions in retail businesses.
