I have along with many of you have faithfully patronized Publix Grocery Stores for many years while living here in Florida. They have helped sponsor Fitness Expos I have produced in the past. They seem to be a good business neighbor overall and provide a clean, well run grocery store.                                                            However, I believe their cashiers should have the option to sit down during their shifts while they work. 

As a Health Professional I can attest to the unhealthy habit of being confined to standing in one place for multiple hours. This can cause a person a lot of health problems. To force a person to stand in one place can cause:

* swollen or painful feet or legs;
*bunions;
*plantar fasciitis (inflamed connective tissue that goes from heel to toe, supporting the arch);
*stretched Achilles tendon (tendinitis);
*varicose veins;
*knee problems;
*low back pain;
*neck and shoulder stiffness;
*poor posture (and its effects);
*restricted blood flow;
*increased chance of knee or hip arthritis; and
*muscle soreness and fatigue.

Publix has stood by the obsolete "By Gone Era" that require checkout cashiers to stand because of a perception that customers regard upright workers as more attentive and professional. As I said this is a bygone era, especially since at Publix all items are connected to a "sku" number and the cashiers just slide them across a scanner and the computers do all the "work" to find the price of all these items. 

In addition I see that more older people are taking the position of cashiers and to force "Grandma and Grandpa" to stand for multiple hours a day is just cruel, I would not do that to my Grandma, would you be ok if your Grandma or Grandpa had to endure such treatment? 

There have been other larger retailers that have come into the 21st Century and have equipped their check out areas with high stools for the cashier to choose when to sit and when to stand. I think Publix needs to join the 21st Century and allow this too. Please sign my petition.