August 26, 2014 - kidk
Schedule more people!!!
I started working for Target at one store in September 2012, where I was hired on as a P Fresh TM, then was let go shortly before Christmas (apparently I was a seasonal hire, which nobody ever told me). I spent 3 months looking for another job, then the following March reapplied at Target. I was hired on at a different store for 75 cents less than I was paid before, but by this point I was so desperate for work I accepted. I figured I would work there until I could find something in my field of expertise (I have a background in administrative assisting, particularly real estate), then leave.
Fast forward a year and a half. This store…is a clusterfuck. The ETLs are so out of touch with us mere mortals, the expectations by far exceed our capabilities. The moment I said I had experience in P Fresh and would prefer to be assigned there, they nearly wet themselves with happiness and gave me the job. What I didn’t know going in is that I would be completely on my own for every single shift. Apparently our store is low volume (although we’re regularly over in our sales goal by several grand), and we don’t have the payroll to bring in more people a night. I’m starting to suspect that my STL is just super ambitious and trying to prove how good he is at running his first store.
As a P Fresh closer, I’m not just expected to zone that area, but also dry goods, paper, and then possibly go help out in other areas. I’m to push out the perishable CAFs (produce, dairy, frozen and meat), and dry CAFs that more often than not have product for departments I’ve never worked in. I’m to push out my foreign, restock milk, head to the front for cold food pick ups and help out as a backup cashier, especially if we’ve had call outs up front. And I’m expected to do all of this by myself and with a smile on my face as I help out any guests that might need help.
Now, I’m damn good at my job. I’m a perfectionist, if my name is attached to it, I want people to go “holy shit, that’s awesome!” But no matter how hard I work, it never seems to be enough. Nevermind that when I go above and beyond to make something happen it’s never acknowledged. Sometimes we’re busy and I don’t get everything done. Sometimes, especially when I’ve been working four or five nights in a row, my body is aching from busting my ass, so I’m not moving as quickly as I was on night one. When that happens, it’s immediately noticed, and I’m talked to. I’ve gotten to the point where I no longer care and will question bullshit calls from my TL, my HL ETL and even the STL. After a year and a half, I’m still only making $7.97 an hour, and the way I see it, if giving my all isn’t rewarded or even acknowledged, I’m going to give the quality of work I’m paid for.
Bottom line, when a busy store has one person for A and B, one for C, D and O, one for all of E and F, and one for G (unless someone calls in, then it’s a real party), that’s the kind of results you’re going to get. If you want to look like the better run stores in the district, you have to schedule as many people as they do and make sure they trust you.
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probably because they are awarded on saving payroll and going about the sales goal
Yeah, the STL gets a bonus for the store staying under payroll, which is nonsense if it's clearly causing issues throughout the entire store.
OP, I know what you mean about being a perfectionist. When I first started I would stay as late as they asked every single time, got my work done every day and even came in on my days off. One time during fourth quarter I even did an open to close in the backroom because I was the early-to-mid and our closer called out. I used to be proud of the work I did.
But after a while my staying late, even if I had been asked to by "leadership," was seen as an issue. I never received recognition for staying upwards of 12 hours and was even criticized once for "taking hours from the rest of the backroom." Ever since then I stopped giving a shit and have been leaving at my scheduled time, regardless of whether or not my work is done.
Nothing you do will ever be good enough for Target. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be.