I put a post on this board yesterday about how Target is going about these layoffs the wrong way. And someone from HR replied that Target's method is the status quo. Dear HR person: Have you read this board lately? Have you read how much hate there is one this board now? Hate towards the CEO? Hate towards fellow co-workers? The dread of walking into work each day? How is HR going to fix that problem once the layoffs are complete? Are you assuming that everything will be peaches and cream cause the bad apples are gone? My bet is that those let go will find better jobs, live happier lives and spread the word that Target is a horrible place to work. It will be the "bad apples" that stay and Target will slowly sink to the level of Walmart. Which is where the new CEO came from anyway, right?
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I am with Baker Hughes and I've been on this board for a while now (we started cutting big time last year) - there is a dozen or so boards that I follow here and I can tell you that Target's board is BY FAR the most civilized one. Not sure if this mean anything to you guys but that's what I have been observing.
Dear Anonymous74785: You are correct. For every worker let go, please do not shop at Target again. And please make sure your friends, relatives, co-workers at your new company never shop at Target. Please Tweet that you were let go by Target, and why, Target feel this in the pocketbook.
Anonymous74787: This is not business. This is a new CEO who is trying to impress the board, with a short-term, but incredibly huge cut in costs, who wants a big bonus and a golden parachute. What is the gain? Tell me.
I am not in HR thank you. I'm simply someone who understands business, the tough decisions that need to be made to have a sustainable one and have been at enough companies to recognize that while this process and outcome sucks for team members and families it's not different than I've experienced elsewhere. My goal was to share additional perspective for those that have only worked at Target or who are junior in their career - not to be attacked for sharing it.
Absolutely correct. A lot of "Target brand" dead wood will continue in position. Target doesn't quite grasp how its bizarre, unwieldly culture contributes to its poor performance. Bottom line: if you are amongst those let go, log your opinion by never spending another dime there again.
Dear Anonymous74754: I agree with you. The employees who are remaining at Target will NEED to post world-class performance, at every financial reporting period. If Target misses the Wall Street mark, heads will roll. And it won't be the CEO's.
I'm not a Target employee but I have a lot of friends who are. Reading these comments is sad. So much worry and dread. I can understand the emotions having gone through it in my life a number of years ago. I have just a few comments. 1. There's nothing you can do about it at this time so just try to stop worrying and keep your sanity. Whether you worry or not won't change the decision. 2. Its not the end of the world. Whether you go or stay you will survive and in some cases grow from the experience. Its really up to you. 3. I'm not surprised by this. Cornell has a history of improving the bottom line with layoffs. Its an easy way to provide the shareholders with value but I question the long term value of dismantling a great corporate culture like Target's. 4. Good luck to all of you and stick up for your mates. The ones staying could be just as traumatized or in some cases even more traumatized then the ones leaving. The ones staying just might end up overworked, underpaid, under appreciated and looking over their shoulders for the next round of layoffs so don't be so sure that getting the axe is worse than staying. Getting laid off might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
Dear Anonymous74675: Yes
How do you know that it was HR who responded to your post? Did they identify themselves?
Agreed. Most people see there's some streamlining that could happen but the way this has been communicated and executed is so destructive to morale and productivity - two things CEOs are accountable for in addition to cost controls.
Dear Anonymous74641: I am the original poster and I never said this board is typical of all Target employee opinions. I love Target too. I am not in a bubble. Layoffs should always be the last resort, not the first. If Target sincerely cared about its employees, the CEO should have said something as simple as this, "Our goal is to streamline operations and cut $2B over two years. And layoffs may be needed, but we will first try other means. Renegotiating costs with suppliers, not backfilling positions, freezing all new hiring, No wage increases. No Bonuses. Job sharing, etc. etc. etc." Any monkey can come to Target and cut $2B by laying off thousands of people. You don't need a $15million a year CEO for that.
It's your life. You decide how it plays out. Not some CEO, not a HR department. You.
Best thing I did was leave that awful place. Target HQ is a JOKE. I'm much, much happier now where I work, and I am treated like a...wait for it...HUMAN. Weird, eh? I'm a human, and not a disposable number, like I was at Target! It makes me sad though...when I first started at Target under Bob Ulrich, things were great. Gregg was terrible...and now Brian C. is just an a-hole who wants more $$$$ in his own diamond-encrusted pockets. Leadership does NOT care about the people who actually execute the work.
AMEN!
HR at Target is SUCH a joke.
As far as I'm concerned the culture at Target is going to be f***ed for the next 5+ years. HR should have done their job and spoke out against announcing these massive layoffs 2 years in advance. It's like Cornell and the exec team aren't considering employees as humans with feelings and families. Instead of revamping processes they took the easy way out and chose to treat employees as "costs" not people. I also know most of the young people here that I've spoken to are looking at moving within the next few months and will gladly tell everyone they know that target is a shitty employer and to steer clear. You reap what you sow, Target.
So much hyperbole. I loved working at Target HQ. If you think this board is typical of all Target employee opinions, then I think you might want to get out of your little bubble.
How should they be handling it?