Customers asked to do work of staff

Out of body experience yesterday at Pick n Pay Benmore. After paying for my purchases I was then asked by the cashier to place the empty basket which held my goods, on the floor at the entrance of her till? So I was a bit taken aback and requested her to repeat herself as I assumed I heard incorrectly. So I enquired politely whether I am now an employee of Pick n Pay as well and placed the basket on the floor obligingly. To my further surprise, she had the audacity to respond and say that me leaving the basket near her till affects her capacity to use the conveyor belt. Is this what it has come to?