No one cares about meal compliance

[Weary36]

Team Leader here. I’ve skipped every fifteen for the last 2.5 years and I sit down for lunches but always do paperwork or computer work and nobody in upper leadership gives a crap. It’s almost encouraged. “Work Life Balance” is a complete sham.

 

[OneGoodEar]

In California at least, you can take your meal anytime from after the start of your third hour up to just before your fifth.

 

[FlowTeamChick]

In California at least, you can take your meal anytime from after the start of your third hour up to just before your fifth.

Much more flexible in my state. There's one TM who helps with ad on Sundays; she takes her lunch really early and then takes her break later. I think she goes to a nearby McDonald's on her lunch to pick up food, then zaps what's left in the microwave and eats it on her break.

I typically take my lunch at about 5 1/2 because the break room is less full and quieter. For a while, the HR ETL was getting after everyone over the walkie about taking lunches well before 5 hours in, practically yelling at TMs to leave the floor immediately. Must have been a lot of non-compliance going on.

 

[Nauzhror]

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!

Fined? Maybe in California and some other select states. Meals aren't even legally required where I work unless you're a minor. Target policy still says you have to take them, but the companies definitely not getting fined for violating policy that doesn't have any legal standing.

 

[Going with the Flow]

In my experience its always the hard workers that hit their 5th ( in Ca) The lazy ones are always on time for every break.

 

[OneGoodEar]

I've noticed the lazy ones always start their 15 minute breaks from the time they sit down not when they leave their work center. Also, they're in the break room at least five minutes before they clock out for the day.

 

[employee 626]

The answer is to get with ethics and answer no on the time clock

 

[FlowTeamChick]

I've noticed the lazy ones always start their 15 minute breaks from the time they sit down not when they leave their work center. Also, they're in the break room at least five minutes before they clock out for the day.

Very common occurrence at my store that a TM comes up the stairs, clocks in and then takes care of coat/lunch/filling water bottle/chitchat/whatever. Reverse upon clocking out: collect belongings then clock out. Same for lunches.

My orientation was a lot of years ago but I'm still old school about it. When I clock in, I'm ready to go immediately to the floor. At the end of my shift, I clock out and then get my coat, etc.

For one TM, it's maybe 10 minutes or less per shift. But when it's more than half of them doing this, it probably adds up to quite a few hours over the course of a month.

This is something I wish our control-freak SD would do something about. But he's more concerned about being liked.

 

[employee 626]

I've noticed the lazy ones always start their 15 minute breaks from the time they sit down not when they leave their work center.

Or the ones who work far away from the break room. I would count my walk time if I had a 0% chance of getting stopped by a guest

 

[allnew2]

Team Leader here. I’ve skipped every fifteen for the last 2.5 years and I sit down for lunches but always do paperwork or computer work and nobody in upper leadership gives a crap. It’s almost encouraged. “Work Life Balance” is a complete sham.

Just a friendly advice. You are just a number to them don’t work for free.

 

[ION the Prize]

... When I clock in, I'm ready to go immediately to the floor ...

I'm all for "hustle", but are you signing out a Zebra while off the clock?

 

[ION the Prize]

... I would count my walk time if I had a 0% chance of getting stopped by a guest ...

Walking is working.

 

[Zxy123456]

Team Leader here. I’ve skipped every fifteen for the last 2.5 years and I sit down for lunches but always do paperwork or computer work and nobody in upper leadership gives a crap. It’s almost encouraged. “Work Life Balance” is a complete sham.

You clock out for lunch? If you are working off the clock that’s a big no no. Your current leadership might not care but, if it changes new leadership might care. Why would you work off the clock you are not getting paid for it. Are you an ETL than that would be different because your salaried. Maybe I misread what you wrote.

 

[Zxy123456]

I've noticed the lazy ones always start their 15 minute breaks from the time they sit down not when they leave their work center. Also, they're in the break room at least five minutes before they clock out for the day.

At my store we are supposed to call out breaks on walkie. Break is supposed to start as soon as you call it. Peeps at my store go to car, go to break room, purchase snacks etc… then call breaks and take 15-20 minutes after they call it. Sucks for anyone who can’t go on break till that person comes back. My lunches are often pushed back 10 minutes or so due to this. Not a huge deal but, can be annoying.

 

[Zxy123456]

I'm all for "hustle", but are you signing out a Zebra while off the clock?

I do it all the time.

 

[ElizaLee]

Update and final results time!

The majority of you guys were seasoned Target veterans – meaning you know your stuff. There’s no excuse for being “too new” to know about meal compliance. 57% of you have never hit meal compliance during your entire time at Target – which is pretty significant considering most of you have been at Target more than 6 years.

Of the 43% of you who HAVE hit meal compliance though, the most common cause seems to be forgetfulness. Because of this I thought that fewer break reminders from leadership would reflect higher meal compliance hits, but there didn’t seem to be a clear correlation so I can’t prove that leadership is letting y’all forget on purpose. Overall though, reminders should definitely be more consistent. Some of you seem to always get reminders frequently from leaders, while others never do.

The good news is, almost none of you have experienced being denied your meal break – so most of you come from pretty decent stores! …Unlike mine, where there’s definitely a certain ETL or two who have actually admitted in an email that they kept someone over 6 hours.

At my own store, I’ve been taking a more active role in talking about meal breaks during huddles and documenting conversations I’ve had with TMs who hit meal compliance. The biggest thing now just seems to be getting that certain ETL on board, as I’ve noticed their area is the only one where people are still constantly hitting meal compliance… might be time to call the hotline honestly (there’s other issues with this ETL too and I’ve noticed the SD covering for them). Otherwise, I think things are improving! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback and participated in my little survey.

 

[ElizaLee]

Update and final results time!

The majority of you guys were seasoned Target veterans – meaning you know your stuff. There’s no excuse for being “too new” to know about meal compliance. 57% of you have never hit meal compliance during your entire time at Target – which is pretty significant considering most of you have been at Target more than 6 years.

Of the 43% of you who HAVE hit meal compliance though, the most common cause seems to be forgetfulness. Because of this I thought that fewer break reminders from leadership would reflect higher meal compliance hits, but there didn’t seem to be a clear correlation so I can’t prove that leadership is letting y’all forget on purpose. Overall though, reminders should definitely be more consistent. Some of you seem to always get reminders frequently from leaders, while others never do.

The good news is, almost none of you have experienced being denied your meal break – so most of you come from pretty decent stores! …Unlike mine, where there’s definitely a certain ETL or two who have actually admitted in an email that they kept someone over 6 hours.

At my own store, I’ve been taking a more active role in talking about meal breaks during huddles and documenting conversations I’ve had with TMs who hit meal compliance. The biggest thing now just seems to be getting that certain ETL on board, as I’ve noticed their area is the only one where people are still constantly hitting meal compliance… might be time to call the hotline honestly (there’s other issues with this ETL too and I’ve noticed the SD covering for them). Otherwise, I think things are improving! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback and participated in my little survey.

 

[ION the Prize]

I do it all the time.

Hm.

Is it a psychological thing?

Grabbing equipment is definitely an on-the-clock activity.

 

[allnew2]

Update and final results time!

The majority of you guys were seasoned Target veterans – meaning you know your stuff. There’s no excuse for being “too new” to know about meal compliance. 57% of you have never hit meal compliance during your entire time at Target – which is pretty significant considering most of you have been at Target more than 6 years.

Of the 43% of you who HAVE hit meal compliance though, the most common cause seems to be forgetfulness. Because of this I thought that fewer break reminders from leadership would reflect higher meal compliance hits, but there didn’t seem to be a clear correlation so I can’t prove that leadership is letting y’all forget on purpose. Overall though, reminders should definitely be more consistent. Some of you seem to always get reminders frequently from leaders, while others never do.

The good news is, almost none of you have experienced being denied your meal break – so most of you come from pretty decent stores! …Unlike mine, where there’s definitely a certain ETL or two who have actually admitted in an email that they kept someone over 6 hours.

At my own store, I’ve been taking a more active role in talking about meal breaks during huddles and documenting conversations I’ve had with TMs who hit meal compliance. The biggest thing now just seems to be getting that certain ETL on board, as I’ve noticed their area is the only one where people are still constantly hitting meal compliance… might be time to call the hotline honestly (there’s other issues with this ETL too and I’ve noticed the SD covering for them). Otherwise, I think things are improving! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback and participated in my little survey.

The hotline isn’t anonymous, FYI. If an ETL is allowing ongoing meal compliance violations, that’s something the HRPB should be made aware of directly so it can be documented and addressed at the district HR level. That email you state you can forward to HRPB and cover your ass in the process.