Microsoft Stores Require Ability to Lift 75 Pounds

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-retail-store-associates-must-be-able-to-lift-75-pounds-2009-8' target='_blank'>http://www.businessinsider.com/micr...5-pounds-2009-8</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Either Microsoft (MSFT) plans to sell rocks at its retail stores or it expects customers to buy a few desktops, Xboxes, and store fixtures all at once."</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1250901892.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></em></p><p>Well, their programs are bloated aren't they? Ok, Ok, enough of the joking, but it does remind me of a requirement listed on the Assistant Medical Examiner position in our County that opened up recently. The primary requirement was the ability to lift a minimum of 75 pounds. And before you reply, I was not comparing a Microsoft product to dead weight. No, really. If you aren't interested in the <a href="https://www.talentbankpreview.com/talentplus/preview/MSCORP/jobDescription.do;jsessionid=B3D5D5DF382B6803A93E342C7649871E?companyInterviewId=&amp;jobReqCode=TB-123052&amp;jobReqId=123052&amp;jobReqTitle=Retail+Customer+Service+Associate-Full+Time-Mission+Viejo,+CA&amp;careerSiteId=50&amp;location=Mission+Viejo,+CA&amp;infoPreviewId=5532" target="_blank">associates position</a>, they only require the <a href="https://www.talentbankpreview.com/talentplus/preview/MSCORP/jobDescription.do?companyInterviewId=&amp;jobReqCode=TB-122873&amp;jobReqId=122873&amp;jobReqTitle=Retail+Assistant+Store+Manager-Mission+Viejo,+CA&amp;careerSiteId=50&amp;location=Mission+Viejo,+CA&amp;infoPreviewId=5532" target="_blank">manager</a> to be able to lift 50 pounds.&nbsp;</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Huh? That's a significant amount of weight. At the home improvement store the bags of concrete or mortar mix are generally about 50lbs, just for a point of comparison. Not sure why a typical sales associate should need to be able to heft 50% more than that. I wondered if OSHA didn't have some guidline about what an individual should lift. I always see those notices on boxes indicating two man lift, on things that get to be above 50-60 lbs. Nope, no OSHA guidlines, but they point at NIOSH for a lifting equation thing that factors in a bunch of stuff to decide how likely it is you will hurt yourself doing it. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/94%2D110/ if you are interested.

[karen]

This is a typical retail approach to selecting certain classes of employee over "less desirable" ones.

They will find out that the requirement to lift 75 pounds unassisted is going to cost them a ton of $$$ with their worker's comp and other insurances.

They will also have to outfit their employees with special safety devices as well as equipment in all the locations where the employees work, including the sales floor.

This sort of crap drives me crazy. Just say that you want young males for your sales force and get it over with.

[doogald]

Sounds like the front office staff is also going to be helping with the back storeroom.