Making sales but still gutting the schedule

[bckrmbulldog]

of course it gets frustrating, but at the end of the day it is a job. It does't determine who I am and if I "fail" it certainly is not the end of my world. I just show up, do what I can with a good attitude. in the end, we are just selling stuff. not saving lives. as far as getting back to where we started from when hours go down, that is where hopefully my leadership skills fall into play. If am working right along beside my team, keeping standards high, doing the same things that I ask them to do, and staying consistent with follow up, then we don't get behind and have to start all over again. i cringe at some of the crap that i read on here, and totally understand that a huge part of target's problem are its leaders. so my goal every day is to leave my workcenter better than it was when I got there, and holding my team to the same standard ( and recognizing and rewarding them for a job well done!)

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

I agree with you, totally.

 

[pfreshdude]

An hour?! What world are you living in? They get a half hour, max. This time of year they are lucky if they get 15 minutes, and many times they are scheduled to leave at close.

Our entire closing sales floor team consists of one softlines, one hardlines, and one electronics. Sending even one of them home before close, unless they are sick, does not happen.

lol this. We barely have anyone on the floor and now starting the past week pfresh is only there til 7. I cannot even remember the last time we sent someone home early.

The ETLS and STL at my store are hardly ever in their office either and are always out on the floor so that helps us out a ton with things that need to get done.

 

[Barcode]

I agree with consumed up to the point where only flow understands that they have to cut to save to finish a bigger truck. In many stores, the only time flow gets cut is if a truck gets cancelled or they are only unloading at the end of the month. I'd say they understand it, but many times they are not the primary workcenter that suffers from cuts.

Sales floor really never has the chance to understand it because they are usually the first cut. Then cashiers get cut meaning that the remaining sales floor ends up backing up the front for an hour at least each night. Sales floor workload snowballs into a massive mess which affects other workcenters too. Bad zones, leftover returns, unbuilt salesplanners, leftover cafs, etc. means more work for backroom, flow, pricing, instocks, pog, everyone really. Then service scores tank and everyone gets the "we need to make guest service a focus" pep talk.

In summary, cutting hours sucks for every team and each person that gets cut. The only way to help yourself out is to get cross trained in as many workcenters as possible so you have a chance to get hours on short weeks.

Interesting insight. I cut my flow team to a 4-hour day if they have a small truck (schedule them the usual 5 and 5.5 hr staggered shifts) and that can bank anywhere from 15-20 hours. From that my STL knows not to get prissy if we overspend on a large truck PLUS I use some of these hours to call in a midshift salesfloor TM to work CAFs if necessary.

I think we can chalk this up to poor store leadership and managing execution. I know I had to change a lot when I moved stores and promoted from TL to ETL; even performanced out 2 of my fellow ETL's. If there is that communication to the team and you utilize smart huddles (30 mins with 5-6 TM's can build multiple salesplanners or do a detailed zone of a department) a lot of the workload can be completed with less hours. Now if we could only eliminate some of those unnecessary cashiers with self-checkout I could give more hours to my floor!!

What kind of etl are you? Logistics or sales floor?

Think hes a Sr.ETL, they are a lot more global than regular ETLs (they are runner ups for STL).

 

[AmICrazy]

An hour?! What world are you living in? They get a half hour, max. This time of year they are lucky if they get 15 minutes, and many times they are scheduled to leave at close.

Our entire closing sales floor team consists of one softlines, one hardlines, and one electronics. Sending even one of them home before close, unless they are sick, does not happen.

lol this. We barely have anyone on the floor and now starting the past week pfresh is only there til 7. I cannot even remember the last time we sent someone home early.

The ETLS and STL at my store are hardly ever in their office either and are always out on the floor so that helps us out a ton with things that need to get done.

I wish that was the case at my store.

 

[Softlines Owns My Soul]

This thread makes it clear how Consumed is so promote-able in Target's eyes. Yikes.

challenge my fellow ETL's to take 'strides to stellar guest service' by comparing our pedometers at the end of the day.

strides to stellar guest service with a pedometer made me vomit in my mouth, among other things, including reveling in the ability to eliminate a cashier's livelihood

 

[commiecorvus]

This thread makes it clear how Consumed is so promote-able in Target's eyes. Yikes.

It takes a certain kind of person to do well at Target and he presents most of those qualities.

 

[Barcode]

Interesting insight. I cut my flow team to a 4-hour day if they have a small truck (schedule them the usual 5 and 5.5 hr staggered shifts) and that can bank anywhere from 15-20 hours. From that my STL knows not to get prissy if we overspend on a large truck PLUS I use some of these hours to call in a midshift salesfloor TM to work CAFs if necessary.

I think we can chalk this up to poor store leadership and managing execution. I know I had to change a lot when I moved stores and promoted from TL to ETL; even performanced out 2 of my fellow ETL's. If there is that communication to the team and you utilize smart huddles (30 mins with 5-6 TM's can build multiple salesplanners or do a detailed zone of a department) a lot of the workload can be completed with less hours. Now if we could only eliminate some of those unnecessary cashiers with self-checkout I could give more hours to my floor!!

What kind of etl are you? Logistics or sales floor?

Think hes a Sr.ETL, they are a lot more global than regular ETLs (they are runner ups for STL).

I'm a Sr.ETL-LOG. For the last 6 months I've been filling in for my ETL-GE/SF while she was out on maternity leave and then decided to not come back to work. So when I say 'my store' it shows my passion for both logistics and salesfloor/GE. The only other ETL's in my building are my AP and HR.

I enjoy the negative feedback on this post. It shows you guys are very passionate over your jobs to the point that it's causing hatred to your leadership. I truly do feel bad for you as this shouldn't be the case. Your leaders should be the embodiment of Target and really shine and impress you with both being hands-on and leading a store. I think it's funny I haven't been able to respond since I closed Thursday night and opened today. I left my store perfectly zoned and reshop free Thursday night because I know how to lead a team and be on the floor working alongside them...back-up requests?? 'Cancel that salesfloor, I'll be right up to assist'. This morning I lead my team to PTM all of C&D that is in transition as well as pre-setting stationary...it's not difficult when you can manage the execution and lead both logistics and salesfloor.

The self-checkout was taken out of context. And yes, they do have self-checkouts in Canada...getting VERY positive reviews. If I could eliminate payroll hours allocated to cashiers, I could BOOST UP GUEST SERVICE. My TM's at the front would ensure a specialized checkout to each guest and make sure they are having a great experience. Ideally I would have one cashier assigned to 4 self checkout lanes, why would anyone be defensive of this?? Have any of you shopped on Target.com--a resource we give to EVERY guest in our store? It's self-checkout, even asks if you want a replacement plan on electronic items.

I also don't want a store of all 'robots'. But if we robotize some processes/positions, would it not allow for more payroll to allocate to driving the VIBE culture? Case in point, Flexible Fulfillment...does this not take the work out of a salesfloor TM helping a specific guest that came in for a specific product?? I'm ULV, when presentation takes over all TWT and visuals does this not robotize a team SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSITIONS AND EMPOWER A SALESFLOOR TEAM TO FOCUS ON VIBE AND ZONE INTEGRITY?

I've been with Target for 10 years...I started as a cashier when I was 16. Pushed carts for a while; did FA; moved to GS; did GSA; worked hardlines; became CTL; became Sr.BRTL; went for ETL-LOG and now am on the STL bench and hope for DTL in the next 2 years. This isn't gloating...I've seen ALL the processes. In both high volume and ULV stores. There are things that need streamlining and I'm glad our company is working toward that. The TL's of every dept. was unnecessary and should have been taken away.

Again, I apologize you have all been jaded by poor leadership in your store. I wish you could all work in my store and see how one SHOULD be run, because I myself have seen the worst too.

I see what you're trying to say, but self checkouts aren't a fix. They won't mean better service, they will just mean less team members in a store, and in most cases the GSA taking over self checkouts entirely. Spot will just pocket the tm reduction savings.

 

[ZombiePanties31]

I don't think self-checkouts are a good idea either. As a cashier, I do a lot more than just mechanically ring up items. I check to make sure clearance items ring up as such; I do price adjustments and price checks; I do reshop, empty my hangers, zone, and put back baskets; I answer guest questions about the return policy, the red card, things we carry/don't carry, gift registries, etc; I sign guests up for red cards; I card guests buying alcohol; I check inside of large containers/bags and under carts to make sure items aren't being forgotten or sneaked out; I carefully check coupons to make sure we're not getting scammed; and I chat with guests, talk to their kids, etc. in a genuine effort to fulfill the "fast, fun, friendly" mantra. A self-checkout can't do those things.

 

[redeye58]

I'd go for self-check if it meant not having to ask guests about the red card so that alone will guarantee no self-checks in my area.

 

[Barcode]

Why are you so hung up on the self checkout idea?? Cashiers aren't going to lose their jobs over it, they would be absorbed into guest servicing. No struggle for hours. Just consciously focusing on the vibe culture. People LOVE self checkouts even if it means them doing extra work...they think it's convenient.

Yeah.... No....

Cashiers will lose their jobs over this. Maybe not instantly and dramatically but the need will decrease (less hours).

You talk like self checkouts is waving the magic vibe wand and will make everything peachy.

 

[redeye58]

Any place I went to that had self-check, I used the regular check-out or I didn't buy anything there.
No matter how often I attempted to use one, something always screwed up, requiring assistance of a real-live human.
Call me incompetent (like most people) but I prefer a live person.

 

[SIGNZERO]

Any place I went to that had self-check, I used the regular check-out or I didn't buy anything there.
No matter how often I attempted to use one, something always screwed up, requiring assistance of a real-live human.
Call me incompetent (like most people) but I prefer a live person.

This is me also. I make sure I go to a real person whenever I check out. Plus those self checkout machines are so slow,and you have to scan slow or it will make you rescan your items. Then if you dont get it right quick enough it tells you to wait for assistance and hopefully someone is close by. Its just too messy. Also of course cashier hours will be cut if Target were to get them, lets not kid ourselves.

 

[ISIS639]

Why are you so hung up on the self checkout idea?? Cashiers aren't going to lose their jobs over it, they would be absorbed into guest servicing. No struggle for hours. Just consciously focusing on the vibe culture. People LOVE self checkouts even if it means them doing extra work...they think it's convenient.

I'm shocked you've worked for Target for 10 years, yet you still believe this...

 

[RedDog]

Why are you so hung up on the self checkout idea?? Cashiers aren't going to lose their jobs over it, they would be absorbed into guest servicing. No struggle for hours. Just consciously focusing on the vibe culture. People LOVE self checkouts even if it means them doing extra work...they think it's convenient.

Self checkouts are being phased out in most places that claim to focus on guest service. While places like Walmart and other low end stores will keep them everyone else is tossing them out. Target of course is on the road to being Walmart, minus the profits, so self check out would not be a suprise. Of course those hours will not being going to the sales floor or anywhere else. Just as all the other cuts to Specialist and TLs, ETLs, BPs etc. that were suppose to translate into more hours for TM never happened. Nobody really buys that anymore do they?

 

[The Dude Abides]

I love how he uses Target Canada as an example because we all know just how much money they are generating for the company...

 

[SpotThe]

Consumed TL, you may not be necessary in a few years. I wouldn't be so high and mighty, I understand you have streamlined processes in the sales floor and back room simultaneously all the while outperforming your fellow ETLs but you can also be replaced, just like anyone else in any other company in the world.

 

[Softlines Owns My Soul]

Geez...the 50 hrs I could cut a week by employing one TM to watch 4 lanes as a gsa/gs TM would bank into having former 'cashiers' as guest service TMs or salesfloor TMs. You can't get rid of payroll, it's based on sales so it can't just disappear.

Didn't realize companies were phasing out of self checkout to help with guest service....where do you get your information?? I would appreciate some citations to that.

Talk to your dtl's about the rollouts to make FF and 'site to store' more focused this year and tell me how automated systems are not going to rule our market.

Learn to be resilient and adaptable guys.

And please the talk about specialist is DEAD. Get over it. TMs that thought they had 'important positions' learned they weren't necessary. They were never important. Etl positions were combined. Stls run multiple stores. What make any of you any more important?

Stop pretending you aren't employed by a corporation to make money for said corporation.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130924/business/709249720/
http://www.businessinsider.com/costco-is-eliminating-self-checkout-2013-6
http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/big-y-eliminates-self-checkout

Citations for you.

Also, it's difficult to work hard for a company that will take that hard work and use it as an excuse to slash hours. Oh, you can do this job in 30 hours instead of 40? Instead of promoting you because you're a valued TM let's just cut your hours. Some reward. Mock specialists all you want and say they weren't important, but I remember when we had specialists at our store and things were more well run. Guests were appreciated. Target is pretty much Wal-Mart now, not that it matters to you.

Geez...the 50 hrs I could cut a week by employing one TM to watch 4 lanes as a gsa/gs TM would bank into having former 'cashiers' as guest service TMs or salesfloor TMs. You can't get rid of payroll, it's based on sales so it can't just disappear.

Actually Gregg Steinhafel would bank it.

 

[Guest]

Everyone should learn from cuts and adapt? LMAO. What page of the ETL/TL script is that on?

 

[The Dude Abides]

Geez...the 50 hrs I could cut a week by employing one TM to watch 4 lanes as a gsa/gs TM would bank into having former 'cashiers' as guest service TMs or salesfloor TMs. You can't get rid of payroll, it's based on sales so it can't just disappear.

Didn't realize companies were phasing out of self checkout to help with guest service....where do you get your information?? I would appreciate some citations to that.

Talk to your dtl's about the rollouts to make FF and 'site to store' more focused this year and tell me how automated systems are not going to rule our market.

Learn to be resilient and adaptable guys.

And please the talk about specialist is DEAD. Get over it. TMs that thought they had 'important positions' learned they weren't necessary. They were never important. Etl positions were combined. Stls run multiple stores. What make any of you any more important?

Stop pretending you aren't employed by a corporation to make money for said corporation.

The hours in this hypothetical situation that are saved would just disappear. It's what happened at my store when the Guest Service TM position was consolidated with the Cashier position. The Guest Service hours didn't get bundled in with the cashiers they just disappeared.

I am being resilient and adaptable by going to a University to get a degree in the field I really want to be in so I can escape this farce of a business. It wasn't that long ago that this company focused on generating revenue instead of trimming costs.

 

[Softlines Owns My Soul]

Geez...the 50 hrs I could cut a week by employing one TM to watch 4 lanes as a gsa/gs TM would bank into having former 'cashiers' as guest service TMs or salesfloor TMs. You can't get rid of payroll, it's based on sales so it can't just disappear.

Didn't realize companies were phasing out of self checkout to help with guest service....where do you get your information?? I would appreciate some citations to that.

Talk to your dtl's about the rollouts to make FF and 'site to store' more focused this year and tell me how automated systems are not going to rule our market.

Learn to be resilient and adaptable guys.

And please the talk about specialist is DEAD. Get over it. TMs that thought they had 'important positions' learned they weren't necessary. They were never important. Etl positions were combined. Stls run multiple stores. What make any of you any more important?

Stop pretending you aren't employed by a corporation to make money for said corporation.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130924/business/709249720/
http://www.businessinsider.com/costco-is-eliminating-self-checkout-2013-6
http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/big-y-eliminates-self-checkout

Citations for you.

Also, it's difficult to work hard for a company that will take that hard work and use it as an excuse to slash hours. Oh, you can do this job in 30 hours instead of 40? Instead of promoting you because you're a valued TM let's just cut your hours. Some reward. Mock specialists all you want and say they weren't important, but I remember when we had specialists at our store and things were more well run. Guests were appreciated. Target is pretty much Wal-Mart now, not that it matters to you.

Geez...the 50 hrs I could cut a week by employing one TM to watch 4 lanes as a gsa/gs TM would bank into having former 'cashiers' as guest service TMs or salesfloor TMs. You can't get rid of payroll, it's based on sales so it can't just disappear.

Actually Gregg Steinhafel would bank it.

Apart from having articles from obscure places in the northeast you cite Costco. The Costco article says they are eliminating self checkout but it works well for low volume warehouses; again I'm ulv so did you just prove my point? ALSO it states that they can not prove that Wal-Mart self checkout would eliminate human positions.

Jewel-Osco is based in Illinois.

It's possible it could work in certain situations but you asked for citations of companies who have abandoned it, not "give me citations of whether self-checkout would work for my ULV store"

It also didn't say that it proved it didn't eliminate positions. A study would be needed for that. I'd be inclined to hypothesize that retailers would use it as an opportunity to save money and not reallocate the funds, like Target has done in combining/eliminating positions for years.

Either way I'd trust Costco's judgment over Target's. They're out to make money of course but they don't seem to be penny wise pound foolish like Target.

 

[The Dude Abides]

Stop getting upset about a company combining and eliminating positions. It's called growth!

Actually during Target's largest period of expansion they did so by paying their workers (relative to inflation) better wages, gave them more hours while having more team leaders, executives and specialists than present day. The reason Target was able to expand at the way it did was by having truly amazing guest service, impeccably clean stores, easy to find merchandise and workers that busted their asses for a company that actually gave a damn for them.

Since Gregg has taken over this company has abandoned all of that and the present failure is what you see. The company is not making money hand over fist like they used to because of these changes. Now instead of focusing on ways to get guests into the stores and keep them there Target is focusing on saving as much money on overhead as possible in the hopes that it will offset the cost of reduced guest expenditures. This company is not growing and I think the stock is a pretty good indicator of that.

Oh and in response to your snide comments on Target Canada, how about you look at the evidence:

http://business.financialpost.com/2...stomers-as-satisfaction-levels-reach-new-low/
http://globalnews.ca/news/981340/canada-costs-weigh-on-target-results/

Also before you try to tell me again that I don't know what I'm talking about. I live in a border state, where I am not only a stone's throw from the Canadian border, but I have plenty of Canadians guests who all tell me how much they despise Target Canada.

 

[Backroom81]

Apart from having articles from obscure places in the northeast you cite Costco. The Costco article says they are eliminating self checkout but it works well for low volume warehouses; again I'm ulv so did you just prove my point? ALSO it states that they can not prove that Wal-Mart self checkout would eliminate human positions.

Self checkout works in ULV stores because they only had 1 cashier anyways. I have worked for various retailers that have implemented self checkouts, they have ALWAYS cut the hours of the front end as a result. Sure, it would work for a ULV store because they only had 1 cashier anyways.

The same thing happened when we stopped manually ordering grocery, they took hours away. The "focusing more on the guest" thing is a myth.

 

[Retail Girl]

If they put in self check out, they will simply pull those hours off the matrix altogether. The salesfloor wouldn't get any more hours because their work load wouldn't be going up...so there's no justification for it. And the GSA will have to watch four self check outs as well as do all the zoning and branding that the cashier who no longer exists would have helped out with. All it would do is add more work onto one person while taking away one or two TMs.

I can just see it...I'd be out getting carts, or covering guest service's lunch, and I would still be responsible for being available to juggle four self check outs. Yeah, that would work real well. These are the same guests who can't handle the kiosks at photo without us holding their hands (and that's completely self explanatory).

 

[Barcode]

You may be right ConsumedTL, it is the goal of a business to turn a profit, but most companies strive to do good for their workers as well.

Target is all about saving the next big buck. Even at the expense of their Team Members.

Do I hate working here? No. But then again I set my expectations mighty low because I knew what I was getting myself back into.