Walmart gets rid of worried Greeters

SALISBURY, Md-If you often shop at Walmart, you probably know the smiling faces that greet you at the front door.

Now these smiling faces are replaced – at least their positions are replaced, for a new role. The role is called "Guest Host" and the position requires more physical responsibilities than the traditional hosting role.

This worries Walmart buyers and employees. Some say it's an unfair change for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who often work in these roles.

Cindy Phillips is from Delaware and was shopping at Walmart here in Salisbury. She says that change is not a good thing. When she heard about her new role, she was: "Sad, oh my god, it's been good to say that she's goodbye, have a good day, it's really sad that they got rid of them. "

Others, like Terry Goodman, claim that he does not support the new role because "This is not the job of a greeter, a greeter is supposed to bring in the customers and their let them know that they appreciate them before leaving them. "

But in a statement to WBOC, Walmart said:

We have recently shared our plans to change the responsibilities of the home-buying role in some stores, which sometimes involves associates with disabilities. We recognize that our physically disabled associates face a unique situation. Keeping this in mind, we will extend the current 60-day welcome transition period for associates with disabilities while exploring the circumstances and possible adaptations, for each individual, that can be made in each store. This allows associates to continue working at the store as team members, while seeking a customized solution that is acceptable to all participants.

Walmart says nearly 1,000 stores will be affected, but they would not comment on the number of workers they employ who work as disabled greeters. Walmart says they've already started offering positions to members, including the disabled.

People like David Quillen said that he would continue to shop at Walmart, but he is extremely disappointed. "It's a positive aspect of entering Walmart, it's a very human aspect of what I like to see when I shop, and I hope they'll change their minds and continue to be welcoming." .

Reports say the transition will take place in late April.