Retail giants Walmart and Macy's adjust in-store procedures due to the onset of a pandemic

In the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, retail giants Macy's and Walmart have announced operational adjustments that could be a response to a labor shortage or an increase in shoplifting incidents.

Macy's stores across the United States will be operating with adjusted hours, opening from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. The stores' hours will remain unchanged for the rest of the week. This move comes as the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread, causing concerns about health and the economy in 2022. Macy's is encouraging CDC-recommended protocols like mask wearing and social distancing within its stores.

Retail consultant Brian Kelly suggests that the labor shortage in retail, exacerbated by the pandemic, could be a contributing factor to these operational adjustments. Workers are reportedly avoiding situations where exposure is more likely, especially in lower-paying jobs like retail.

Meanwhile, Walmart is temporarily closing Walmart and Sam's Club stores for cleaning, based on market-specific data. The temporary closures typically last a day and a half and the program will remain in place for as long as it's needed. Walmart is also expanding home delivery in the U.S. from 6 million households to 30 million by the end of the year, aiming to provide a safe in-store environment for associates and customers.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has successfully blocked the Biden administration's vaccine mandate, which would require large companies to document their employees' COVID-19 immunization status or test them weekly if they choose not to be vaccinated. However, Macy's is working to meet the new vaccine mandate requirements and has begun the process of documenting the vaccine status of all U.S. employees.

Public health experts agree that boosting vaccination rates would reduce the likelihood that further variants proliferate and increase the chance of curtailing the pandemic. The Supreme Court will take up the issue of the vaccine mandate this week.

In a separate development, Apple store closures are likely due to a direct disease outbreak, while operational adjustments at Macy's and Walmart could be due to a variety of factors.

According to a report from National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, the Omicron variant could contribute to inflation but is unlikely to cause widespread shutdowns or slowdowns.

As the pandemic continues to evolve, retail giants like Macy's and Walmart will undoubtedly adapt their strategies to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing health crisis and the labor market.

Retail giants Walmart and Macy's adjust in-store procedures due to the onset of a pandemic