Using supermarkets to identify carers has been described as a “bemusing” and “nonsense headline-grabbing idea” by members of the health select committee.
Well, yes. I was aware of this a while back when it was first mooted. The idea that supermarket staff should be encouraged to poke about into the personal lives of their customers is deeply repugnant and had I been asked, I would have flatly refused to do it. This is because, frankly, it is none of my business. It is none of Sainsbury’s business. Indeed it is no one’s business but that of the person themselves. They may, if they so wish, seek help, guidance and advice. To thrust it upon them, having spied in their shopping bags is not only patronising, it is a gross invasion of personal privacy.
As it is, I’m not going to be asked as I don’t work on checkouts. Just as well, really.
…Rosie Cooper, described the scheme as a “nonsense headline-grabbing idea”.
So what’s new?
And of course that’s not going to start off any slippery slope to identifying people with drink problems or bad diets, is it?
As far as I’m concerned, any comment by the checkout assistant on the contents of my trolley is intrusive and out of order.
The problem, unfortunately is that it is likely to be a part of their performance target.
Of course Sainsbury’s are motivated completely by compassion and a sense of civic duty in this matter.
The question should really be “will I get triple nectar points now you’re targeting my repeat business to your shop and pharmacy?”
“The problem, unfortunately is that it is likely to be a part of their performance target.”
I would prefer that faster service and checking out of my purchases was the primary performance target. Considering that my local branch rarely have more than 20% of their checkouts open, just how do they expect staff to engage customers in probing conversation?
Those are part of their targets. They are also expected to engage the customer while doing it. My experience of the target culture is that the targets are so much wishful thinking and the staff are under a huge amount of stress trying to achieve the impossible.
And what will be done with the information?
Will “Carers” who are currently not asking for financial help be pressured into accepting help?
If so on what terms?
Also , if so, who will be providing the help? Excuse me if I doubt it will come from the personal pockets of politicians or bureaucrats.
If not, then what is the point?
Well they’ve been poking there nose in for 10 years or more already with their “loyalty card” and point schemes.
All that luvverly information to be sold on at a profit that more than makes up for the discounts given to the punters.
It’s already been used by political parties so that they can tweek the wording of their policies to suit the demographics of a particular area. The fact that the “health” nazis are now onto it is just the next logical step.
“Do you have a nectar card Sir?”
“No thanks, I don’t use them.”
Same here.
Screw up the system. Have loyalty cards but use them infrequently, shop at different supermarkets for different things. Then the data they collect becomes commercially useless anyway.
BTW: Don’t forget to tick (or untick) the ‘Don’t send me mailshots’ box on the application. Although I don’t think you lot need reminding. 😈
That comes to £108.50. Do you have a club card? Do you want any cash back? Do you know any hidden carers?
OW MUCH?!!!!!!!
Quick, run for it!