Walmart Disabled Workers To Lose Greeter Positions Because Of More Demanding Job Requirements

Walmart (WMT) is saying goodbye to its store greeters, instead opting for customer hosts that will be expected to perform more strenuous labor.

The move will affect roughly 1,000 store locations, especially impacting workers with disabilities that traditionally fill these roles, NPR reported. The greeters are anticipated to go to the wayside in late April as Walmart integrates customer hosts into their new roles, according to the outlet.

As a customer host, workers must be able to lift 25 pounds in addition to collecting carts, cleaning up spills, and standing for long periods of time. The requirements may too challenging for some workers that are disabled or elderly, causing them to lose their job over the new responsibilities.

Walmart is now facing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Greeters who have disabilities and lost their positions have also filed a lawsuit against the company, NPR reported.

The position change was part of a Walmart 2016 initiative, and has already been implemented in 1,000 stores, CNBC reports. It a May 2016 web post, titled "Offering Customers More at the Door," Walmart said that during its "pilot phase" of the transition "more than 80% of the affected associates were able to find new positions – including many promotions."

Walmart responded to the backlash it is receiving from its employees that are unable to fit the new demanding requirements by saying it will extend the transition period for employees with disabilities.

"We've recently shared our plans to change the responsibilities of the people greeter role in some stores and that involves associates with disabilities in some cases," spokesman Justin Rushing told CNBC.

We recognize that our associates with physical disabilities face a unique situation. With that in mind, we will be extending the current 60-day greeter transition period for associates with disabilities while we explore the circumstances and potential accommodations, for each individual, that can be made within each store. This allows these associates to continue their employment at the store as valued members of the team while we seek an acceptable, customized solution for all of those involved.

Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, companies can make modifications to the job requirements, but they still need to make reasonable accommodations for employees individually.

Shares of Walmart stock were down 0.54 percent as of 1:35 p.m. EST on Tuesday.