In a nod to the tight labor market, Target is gearing up for the holiday season by increasing hours for existing employees and hiring fewer seasonal workers — 100,000 compared to 130,000 in each of the past two years. The retailer will provide more than 5 million more hours to current associates, resulting in more than $75 million in additional pay for its existing teams on top of additional investments in flexible scheduling, training and benefits.
On average, Target associates are already working nearly 15% more hours than they were a year ago due to the retailer’s scheduling efforts. The company plans to build on this momentum by having store leaders regularly check in with workers to better understand their scheduling preferences and offer them the opportunity to work additional hours if they’re interested.
Additionally, a scheduling app Target launched in summer 2021 will give associates more opportunities to choose or swap shifts that align with their schedules. The app also lets associates who opt into working “on demand” pick up shifts that align with their schedules.
Training also will help Target get more done with fewer workers. The retailer has been offering backup training in areas including Order Pickup and Drive Up for the past year, in addition to providing trained associates the opportunity to pick up an additional four to eight hours per week. This program will now be extended to all store workers.
Advertisement
These employee benefits are expected to last even beyond the current hiring crunch. Target believes more flexibility will reduce turnover, positioning the retailer for the future.
“We have worked to provide our team members with more consistent schedules, which means more consistent paychecks and a more consistent way to manage their life,” said Melissa Kremer, Chief Human Resources Officer at Target in a statement. “Additionally, we are offering more hours to team members who want them and continuing our important investment in training and development. When we invest in and care for our team we know that guest service improves, turnover goes down and team members can more easily build rewarding careers at Target.”
