If any of you were around in 2015 (I think?) for the layoffs/merch transformation— what was it like? Was it devastating and terrible? Did morale plummet? I’m trying to brace myself for what’s to potentially come, and not just the mass layoff itself but the entire gravity of the situation. I’ve been at Target since 2018 but I’m still young, not married, don’t own a house, etc. If I lose my job I don’t know what the he-l I’m going to do or how I’ll achieve any of the goals I hoped I would in the next few years. I’m so scared.
20 replies (most recent on top)
@qc Yeah it was bad... Eliminated the logistics teams and outsourced inbound scheduling. If you worked on a campus they combined roles (people covering HR or AP for 2 different types of distribution centers.)
@qc the same thing happened at HQ. People that were let go are back at 6 months to one year.
@ad The problem is the economy, it’s horrific. In 2015 the economy was great and jobs were plentiful. Right now it’s taking people a year to find a job. Some people can’t even get hired at McDonald’s.
2014 entire teams in distribution - not MN but actual sites - were let go. Roles outdated they said. Roles no longer necessary they said. Then slowly, these jobs were brought back into buildings, albeit under new titles, gaining higher headcount’s than that original teams ever had. My guess is if you are in distribution in support/merit role, don’t plan any major purchases any time soon. The current climate is eerily close to 2014. Has your building began to lose leadership, especially SOM or above? How has HR been acting, maybe less open and friendly?
@bv HR will deliver the news. Your manager may be gone and you stay.
@aa goodness I forgot about warm cookie Wednesday. Thanks for that. (Around for 2015 layoffs but survived. Left for a different gig in 2019.)
I was there and laid off in 2015. Got a meeting morning of, then a cattle call to a room with Rick Gomez saying peace out, handed an envelope with severance, a box and an hour to pack and leave, then off to happy hour. Didnt feel like it at the time, but was not the end of the world, and things got better for me elsewhere. Difference is the job market is crud right now.
@ab will it be my manager who delivers the news or someone from HR?
@b2 that’s not what happened in my area. They got 6 weeks severance + unused PTO + 1 wk for every two years worked. No 60 days before severance.
I got laid off in August and got 60 days to find a job internally + 6wks severance + 1 wk for each year worked + 6 months of what company paid for my benefits.
Everyone should know that unemployment doesn’t get paid off until after your severance period ends.
Here are some old threads with lots of replies:
I have seen CRE making arrangements in GWS Facility
Jun 3, 2015 - replies 43 - post ID @OP+BOaWLCx
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FNM 2015, Leader messaging falls flat and was lifeless....
Sep 16, 2015 - replies 41 - post ID @OP+DvE3DKh
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It's annoying that some people
May 1, 2015 - replies 41 - post ID @OP+BhcOs8u
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Having trouble doing what needs to be done
Aug 26, 2019 - replies 36 - post ID @OP+10J8mVnm
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Figure it out!
Nov 30, 2015 - replies 36 - post ID @OP+EIqMdOq
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April layoffs moved up
Mar 12, 2015 - replies 36 - post ID @OP+AtIXU8o
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Either get on the bus or leave so no one else gets let go.
Mar 14, 2015 - replies 35 - post ID @OP+AvMKblO
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More Layoffs in April
Mar 11, 2015 - replies 35 - post ID @OP+As9dxvu
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Layoffs started in Target India
Sep 1, 2015 - replies 33 - post ID @OP+DgsaEwE
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The real deal.
Mar 8, 2015 - replies 33 - post ID @OP+Ap2DEcN
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@b1 we were made to exit the building and lost email access etc immediately.
We were paid for 60 days after that.
Severance was paid out after those 60
Days. WARN act requires you give 60 day notice.
@ah in 2015 you were given 60 days? That was not the case for most people that got laid off during that RIF. Most were pulled into large conference rooms and given their severance contracts immediately, and had about an hour to collect their personal items, drop off equipment and leave.
@OP The cuts were deep and some didn't make any sense, but at the time the company was in a bad place and BC came in and essentially did a reorganization right off the bat. I think another poster said that HQ has grown 40% since the pandemic? I dont know the numbers but 10k to 14k is ballpark. Some areas have gotten bigger and maybe the workload hasn't. If if sales continue to grow that doesn't justify adding that much headcount. It should have been monitored over time with internal moves or hiring freezes.
I was there for the 2014 rounds. For some history, it was right after BC was hired. In his first few months, he said in the media that TGT would cut thousands of jobs to get lean and efficient. TGT was just leaving Canada and also there was that big data breach and times were very, very tough. (somewhat like now)
You should know that TGT experience is valuable and employers know that TGT employees are typically high-performing, worth hiring, good candidates overall. Having TGT on your resume means something. You have a leg up just from that alone.
I believe people who were let go got termination packets with instructions and contact info for things like 401k rollovers and COBRA and whatever else HR provides. I believe we have to drop off laptops, badges, any company property within a short timeframe.
The other posters are correct: leaders read from scripts.
Competitors have laid off (Amazon did one just today!) and the sales aren't what was expected. Doing it in Q3 protects Q4. TGT can't afford a stock selloff. I understand the business dynamic.
I was laid off in 2015. There was no WARN act notice prior because we were paid for 60 days before the layoff was effective but did not work for those 60 days.
Given there have been no WARN notices, can they even do the walkouts? Or will it need to be 60 day notices?
I started in 2015 after the layoffs, so not sure how it all went down, I'm no help there.
Everyone who ever had the immediate separation all found good jobs. Companies like BB, 3M and on and on have lots of former TGT employees. If you have good skills, you should be hireable.
You will get a status set up on your calendar for an 830a meeting. A script will be read. If you are in the office you’ll be shown the white boxes. At 10a(?) escorted out of the building. You may have time to send a final email before it is shut off.
There will be a Department meeting where another script is read. Those remaining will be crying but relieved it wasn’t them.
If a 60 day notice, that’s a different scenario.
Check your email daily for a private meeting. Especially in the morning between 8-9. They’ll put people in different meetings whether you’re being let go or not. Communicate with your coworkers or calendar stalk to see what time they have meetings on their calendar. Usually mass layoffs result in having to leave immediately versus being given 60 days to find something internally. Unless they realize you need to train/transition your work to other folks. If you’re at least 53, and been at target for 10 years, you’ll get to take retirement and get the lifetime discount. You’re a young’un, but it may apply to others reading this. Good luck!
We got warm cookie Wednesday out of it