Woolworths confirms distribution staff given time limits via controversial headsets

Staff at Woolworths distribution centres in New Zealand wear the controversial headsets that give a time limit for each job.

• Woolworths has corrected its earlier statement and confirmed distribution centre staff are given job time limits via headsets
• The same headsets have been slammed in Australia for rushing stressed staff
• Woolworths has warned its New Zealand staff not to speak to media

Woolworths NZ has admitted workers at its distribution centres are subject to time targets Australian-based workers are currently striking against.

The supermarket giant told the Herald in November its workers used controversial headsets only to receive jobs — not time limits for those jobs.

Now, Woolworths has corrected its statement saying “The last statement we sent to you included that ‘no timeframe per job is provided over the headset’”.

“Due to a misunderstanding the information sent to you was inaccurate” it said.

Woolworths has now confirmed time limits are given for each job.

A spokesperson also told the Herald workers can pause the time according to circumstances — including “using the toilet”.

Headsets and time targets were also used at distribution centres for Foodstuffs, which owns Pak’nSave and New World.

Australian Woolworths workers said they were pushed to reach 100% efficiency and were openly rated and ranked according to their speed.

Woolworths NZ stood by its statement that this was not happening in New Zealand.

“Performance is not shared or compared,” a spokesman said.

The Herald was contacted by distribution centre workers who wanted to remain anonymous.

One said time targets given through headsets made product picking jobs stressful and were often unattainable.

“You are in competition with your colleagues and that’s never positive.

“It feels like every move is analysed like a human robot.”

Another saw the headsets as positive and said they enjoyed trying to beat their personal best.

“We see it as a bit of fun and healthy competition but I do know others really struggle.”

A First Union spokesperson confirmed Woolworths NZ had contacted the union “to request that it stop its members from speaking to the media”.

In September, 9000 staff walked off the job for two hours from midday demanding higher wages, improved staffing levels, and safer working conditions. They are still in negotiations.

Workers at Woolworths distribution centres wear headsets that give job instructions and time limits.

A Woolworths worker told the Herald in November their performance was analysed and there was pressure to work faster.

“They say how long a particular job should take and we have to perform to that level,” the worker said.

“The job is already done at a fast pace and this just adds pressure to rush because your performance is picked over.”

The worker said teams were already short-staffed, so extra pressure to be faster was potentially dangerous — especially when packing pallets.

“When people are rushing, trying to meet a time that’s when mistakes are made and accidents happen.”

The Woolworths NZ spokesperson said the distribution centres in New Zealand and Australia both use “engineered standards” — which means the time a trained person should take to complete a task safely.

“In New Zealand, the standards are set in conjunction with our local unions, considering various factors to ensure products can be picked and moved efficiently and safely.”

He said the safety of Woolworths’ workers was factored in when creating time limits.

“Safety is at the core of everything we do, and is ... built into the standards.”

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