Thread regarding Target Corp. layoffs

I completely agree with your frustration—it's been a challenging stretch, for sure. However, I think it's important to keep perspective on what has historically made Target a strong and resilient brand.

Yes, there have been significant misses recently, and external pressures like tariffs and intense competition from Amazon and Walmart are real. However, Target has repeatedly shown the ability to adapt over the long term. The current struggles don’t erase the fact that this company has valuable assets: a loyal customer base (although DEI stance is contracting that base), strong private brands, strategic store locations, and a generally good track record in innovation - especially in areas like digital sales growth, same-day fulfillment (Drive Up, Shipt), and brand collaborations.

The issues you're highlighting - lack of ingenuity, short-term management thinking, and internal pessimism - are genuine concerns that leadership absolutely needs to address. But as challenging as things seem right now, this brand still has the potential to pivot successfully. Consider that Target has weathered tough periods before (data breaches, failed expansions), learned from them, and come back stronger.

The key right now is leadership accountability and an openness to meaningful innovation. Target still holds significant brand equity. If leadership can refocus on clearly differentiated strategies, invest thoughtfully in innovation, and rebuild internal confidence, there's still meaningful upside here.

It's okay to be critical and hold leadership accountable. That’s important for change. But I wouldn’t lose sight of the long-term strengths at Target’s core.

That job is why I bounced, and I'm way happier now. My ideas were always getting ignored, and my manager was a nightmare, making some seriously bad calls that basically wrecked our team and totally ki-led our vibe. The craziest thing about working there was seeing how easily people would just follow along, even when the decisions were d-mb or harmful. It was almost like being in a cult. I'm so glad I got out of there when I did. I feel bad for some of the good people who are still stuck there.

No new ideas, no interest in keeping top talent, everyone is just encouraged to do what they’re told even though the leaders don’t have all the right information. Everything is reactive.

It felt this way in 2012-15. We can bounce back like we did then but we need a big shakeup.

Do most engineers get stock options? In the past two annual reviews I received some...

Target is not in the same dire financial position as Kmart was (for now), but there are similarities. This company really needs leaders who are open minded and aren't just red kool-aid drinkers who regurgitate the same old talking points about how amazing it is and how we're the best team in retail (we're not).