First of all, many of us are truly grateful for the $200 across the board cash bonus. This is a wonderful thank you for those of us on the front lines.
Unfortunately, the $15 minimum increase is meaningless in High Cost of Living - HCOL - urban locations. Washington State's minimum wage is $13.50 and in the city limits of Seattle it's $16.39. Target's minimum wage in its many stores around the Seattle metro area is $14. In HCOL stores and DCs, most existing TMs will receive a "goose egg" or have new hires earning the same.
$15 an hour is a great wage in Wichita, Brownsville, Beaumont, Fort Wayne, Lynchburg, Texarcana, Fayetteville, Springfield MO, Amarillo, Oklahoma City and Great Falls.
In HCOL urban areas -- such as Pleasanton or Woodinville, will this result in many Target TMs seeking jobs at other employers who will pay a premium to get experienced workers from Target? Or will corporate quietly find a way to boost pay for current TMs in HCOL areas?