A major supermarket chain in my area is in the process of phasing out their self-checkout lanes.<p>A family member is friends with many of the staff at their store. The inside word, not promoted publicly, is "shrinkage".<p>They are losing enough that the cost of remodeling out the self-checkout lanes, and the cost of additional staff, is still seen as a net savings.<p>For my part, I'm glad for the change. Their staff are competent and helpful, and it's a union shop: Wages at least for long-term employees seem to be living wages, people actually get vacations, etc.<p>They still employ young adults, providing initial jobs and e.g. jobs for people in the local community college.<p>And staff, while hardly idle, have enough time and the freedom to e.g. provide enough boxes for my friend's recent move. (Already collected in a shopping cart as they had worked, so it really didn't cost them much if any productivity to do so.)