No one cares about meal compliance

[ElizaLee]

So I’ve been at Target for a while, but ever since I moved into HR, it’s been my responsibility keep up with meal compliance and I realized… despite being told that we get fined “thousands” for every TM that hits compliance, no one in leadership actually seems to care at my store.

So I wanted to ask TMs and HR veterans across TBR… why do people miss their 30 minute breaks?

At my store at least, it seems to just be a total disregard of the policy with very few people actually forgetting to punch out. I’m just trying to do my job here and make sure everyone takes their 30.

Please share your stories and opinions!

 

[Puckpsyd]

So I’ve been at Target for a while, but ever since I moved into HR, it’s been my responsibility keep up with meal compliance and I realized… despite being told that we get fined “thousands” for every TM that hits compliance, no one in leadership actually seems to care at my store.

So I wanted to ask TMs and HR veterans across TBR… why do people miss their 30 minute breaks?

At my store at least, it seems to just be a total disregard of the policy with very few people actually forgetting to punch out. I’m just trying to do my job here and make sure everyone takes their 30.

Please share your stories and opinions!

Nobody is getting fined. This is just bullshit in case a TM decides to sue claiming Target didn't let them take their break.

Just take your breaks. The law entitles them. Target tells you to take them. Be steadfast about them. Take breaks only so long as you're allowed, but take them every chance you get. If everyone was steadfast in this, there'd be no issue.

 

[Captain Orca]

Concur. Take the 30, maybe an ETL or STL dumped some free snack shit for you in the BR.

 

[Ringwraith917]

I'm just a team member but in my experience the reason to skip break or lunch is intense pressure to finish job tasks. Whether that pressure comes from management or from self differs from person to person

 

[Captain Orca]

Very true, above. I didn't like to leave a task half assed in the back room. My ETL and STL were cool.

 

[buliSBI]

Actually a number of states require meals be given within a specific time period.

 

[Ringwraith917]

Actually a number of states require meals be given within a specific time period.

True but laws are only effective if they're enforced. People are saying there is no enforcement

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

welcome! Some folks just forget or get buried in workload deadlines.

 

[ElizaLee]

I'm just a team member but in my experience the reason to skip break or lunch is intense pressure to finish job tasks. Whether that pressure comes from management or from self differs from person to person

Very true, above. I didn't like to leave a task half assed in the back room. My ETL and STL were cool.

This is what I’m thinking. I guess I’m just wondering how many people are feeling external pressure verses internal pressure.

How many people are skipping because leadership is indirectly pushing it verses how many people are skipping because they just care and genuinely don’t want to half-ass their jobs.

 

[ElizaLee]

welcome! Some folks just forget or get buried in workload deadlines.

Yea and then I wonder how many people just genuinely forget 😂 Which I know happens sometimes, but it at my store its always the same damn people who forget and I'm starting to question if its truly forgetfulness... Or again, is it deeper issue of management pressure?

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Yea and then I wonder how many people just genuinely forget 😂 Which I know happens sometimes, but it at my store its always the same damn people who forget and I'm starting to question if its truly forgetfulness... Or again, is it deeper issue of management pressure?

mgt pressure & short staff

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

No sales too

 

[Tigger]

In some states (like CA), team members get penalty pay if they don't take their meal break on time. Good for the team member, bad for Target. Therefore, Target has a hardline stance on meal compliance. In fact, in California, there is a stand alone counseling/final warning just for meal compliance. Plenty of people get fired in CA just because they can't be bothered to take their meals on time.

 

[ElizaLee]

K, not sure if this is going to work, but I thought it would be cool to gather all this info into a graph or something, so I made a short survey about meal compliance.

I don’t want Bullseye to come for me, so I decided to use a Tally form (instead of Google) so everyone could stay anonymous. This survey is NOT created by or for the use of Target corporation. I made this off the clock because I'm a nerd who's genuinely interested in this topic.

Hopefully I’ll get some cool data to share with TBR.

meal compliance - https://tally.so/r/lbd0bo

If you’re on your phone, definitely rotate it horizontal so you can see all the answer choices 🤦‍♀️

 

[FlowTeamChick]

Might depend on your state's labor laws. I've been with Target for 15+ years and violated twice in all that time, once when I was still just a seasonal TM. Had to sign an acknowledgement that I'd been reminded of the rules and promise to not do it again.

Not sure if my state really does enforce it, but the state does have a long reputation for strong labor laws. There's been some weakening in the last couple decades, but we used to have huge, strong unions and sympathetic politicians at the capitol. So even with some weakening, it's still a very pro-labor state.

 

[ElizaLee]

Might depend on your state's labor laws. I've been with Target for 15+ years and violated twice in all that time, once when I was still just a seasonal TM. Had to sign an acknowledgement that I'd been reminded of the rules and promise to not do it again.

Not sure if my state really does enforce it, but the state does have a long reputation for strong labor laws. There's been some weakening in the last couple decades, but we used to have huge, strong unions and sympathetic politicians at the capitol. So even with some weakening, it's still a very pro-labor state.

Unfortunately my state has no legal protections for breaks unless you’re a minor

 

[jackandcat]

My state has strong enforcement of labor laws including meals and breaks. Throughout the time I've worked at our store (I joined TBR several years back), our store has been very intentional about our meal compliance. In our state, meal compliance hits at 5 hours. We are told if we get past 4.5 hours, start using our walky to get backup, and if we get to 4.75 hours simply use the words "compliance" and get clocked out.

It didn't occur to me that in other states, enforcement of meal compliance isn't as intentional as it is here on the Left Coast.

 

[ElizaLee]

Hey guys, I just wanna thank everyone who’s participated in my survey so far. I didn’t expect this big of a turnout so this really means a lot ❤️

So far, 83% of you have never been denied a meal break – this is great! Also, exactly half of you have never hit meal compliance! …I’m starting to think that my store is one of the few with really bad leads because for the most part, y’alls responses have been pretty positive.

Anyways, I’m looking forward to seeing more responses! Thanks again!!