Paywall removed: https://archive.is/8P8ti
It definitely will take time for it to work, and it will depend on company culture (which Home Depot may have a terrible one, in which case even more time).
I do think it’s a good idea, but it’s got to be treated as a learning opportunity and not an opportunity for punishment.
If the companies serious, it’ll be helpful, if not… well then you’re right.
No retail worker is going to risk their job based on corporate platitudes about learning opportunities. It doesn’t matter if the company is serious, there’s no way for their employees to know, not enough incentive for them to take a risk, and not enough time for the reality of the job to naturally sink in simply by being there.
The best you can hope for is a cranky old timer to tell it like it is Office Space style simply because he doesn’t care about his job. Maaaybe whatever stores are closest to the corporate office will get fatigued enough by the constant stream of white collar workers on field trips that they’ll just start ignoring them and something might be learned by chance. But most are just going to show up for their mandatory floor time, shadow whichever poor sod is trustworthy and energetic enough to be the corporate babysitter, and then return to their desk none the wiser.
I think that’s a possibility, but I don’t think it’s a guarantee.
In terms of risk I think you’re right, no one is going to actively risk their job. However just working with someone you’re going to pick up a few things. It can start as simple as some internal application being set up weirdly.
To find the real long term problems and fixes, that will take time. Time to build that trust.
I also agree that if everyone is just going to the same Home Depot that’s going to bias things heavily and probably result in poorer feedback.