MEGATHREAD 2018-2019 Store Modernization Megathread

[band_rules16]

Uh oh, don't mention The Great Debacle that was Canada. Some of the kool aid drinkers here get apoplectic whenever it gets brought up. In some people's eyes, Target can do no wrong. Never mind they screwed a whole country. And of course, this modernization is totally different. It's too big to fail. Right.

Haha, right? I don't think it was fully Target's fault that Canada didn't work out. I think the retail climate there was a factor and it was too bad it went the way it did. But that's my opinion. Not aiming to ruffle feathers.

I wish I knew the solution to see modernization succeed. I just know I kept coming into work, having more tasks dumped on me and other TMs with very little time to complete them, along with our backroom being a dumpster fire. Maybe it will iron itself out, but I'm not sticking around to see it.

 

[seasonaldude]

Product sits everywhere in the backroom, no TMs answer the calls...we had market TMs backing up on lanes today because no one in GM would respond. But aren't there not supposed to be backups anymore?

GM does everything it can to not backup anymore. They have timelines they are supposed to meet and those timelines don't include doing anything other than their work. Backing up means they don't finish on time and get dinged for it. This new reality sucks for them and for other workcenters that rely on backup from GM. I had a 29(51) order drop and immediately after I entered it a 23(36) order dropped. I called it out to the SETL and he spent the next 5 minutes trying to get someone, anyone to jump into OPUs to help with that second order. He had to give up because it was *crickets* from GM. So that was a nice fat goal time not met. I've had to get SD intervention just to get my lunch covered recently lest I hit compliance. It sucks, but I get it. GM can't get their own work done. They don't have time to do mine.

 

[vngoghlvr]

GM does everything it can to not backup anymore. They have timelines they are supposed to meet and those timelines don't include doing anything other than their work. Backing up means they don't finish on time and get dinged for it. This new reality sucks for them and for other workcenters that rely on backup from GM. I had a 29(51) order drop and immediately after I entered it a 23(36) order dropped. I called it out to the SETL and he spent the next 5 minutes trying to get someone, anyone to jump into OPUs to help with that second order. He had to give up because it was *crickets* from GM. So that was a nice fat goal time not met. I've had to get SD intervention just to get my lunch covered recently lest I hit compliance. It sucks, but I get it. GM can't get their own work done. They don't have time to do mine.

Are they all trained on it? I drop everything to help Flex when asked, that was my starting position and I love it. Most people in my store aren't trained in it, they are going to work on that for 4th quarter. Supposedly.

 

[InboundGrunt]

We're like 3 trucks behind and most of the new TMs are worth about 25% an old flow TM. A lot of the new people we just can't depend on yet. Most haven't been properly trained because who would do it? No one has time. I'm just doing everything in my power to push freight and get my stuff backstocked to free up vehicles for the next unload, even with the SD constantly asking me to zone or work on some random special project. Jesus, Spot's priorities are warped right now.

 

[Priceslasher]

i'm trying to figure out how i can stop bringing work stress home with me. tbh i work more than 40 hours a week, but without hitting overtime. it's especially rough since i don't have a peer SETL and haven't since my onboarding.

Having a peer SETL isn’t always easier ... trust me. It adds to your stress especially if your peer isn’t really a peer. This is really one of the toughest positions, your team members also see how differently you’re treated from peer and that is a small start of the problems of this position. I am all about my store, team, setting expectations, empowering my team. Leading by example. My OFF STAGE peer worries about printers, and the soon leaving photo lab.

 

[seasonaldude]

Are they all trained on it? I drop everything to help Flex when asked, that was my starting position and I love it. Most people in my store aren't trained in it, they are going to work on that for 4th quarter. Supposedly.

Most are trained in the basics at least. The only ones who aren't trained in flex are those we really, really wouldn't want doing OPUs. But, it's not just an issue with OPU coverage. It's backing up the lanes or the service desk. Getting carryouts can take an embarrasingly long time. Cart parties are another issue. Tech even has problems getting people to go unlock video games for guests. It sucks. But, I look at the backroom and yeah, GM doesn't have time for that shit. Mind you, that means that I absolutely do not have time (even if I really do) to help GM with their reshop. Won't touch it that day if backup is called for without a response. But, I get it.

 

[Priceslasher]

This happened yesterday. Frontend SETL stayed in back most of the day, came out to bark a out nitpicky stuff, never got on a lane, hung out by GS, and we were slammed all day.

Color me irritated.

You probably work at my store... lol sounds like my peer SETL. Lol

 

[Priceslasher]

Before I left there was a day when we got about 15 hours of BTS push but only had people schedules for maybe 10 hours. Where do those 5 additional hours come from?

In also walking through a different Target right now and it's a complete shitshow. College isnt set. Paper clarence is marked down 0% so it is still full price (first picture) and toys clarence is all over the place (last two pictures). I'm afraid to see the rest of the store

At least there is product on the shelf and not on the floor, thought it was my store at first glance, unless you just didn’t capture lines of carts filled with reshop and abandons. When I was a GMTL if one section looked like it was headed this way. Probably would’ve been terminated immediately! Glad I’m stuck at the front end now it makes me cry seeing the stores look like this being a TL and nothing you can do.. just sad!

 

[CrimsonRaven712]

One thing I noticed at my store with all the modernization is that the late morning/afternoon teams don't really have a sense of urgency. Before, the flow team could get the entire truck done by noon. Now since everyone has to own their own sections (pricing, outs, pogs, etc) the former flow team will unload the truck in between 1-1.5 hr, finish up their sections, leave for the day and then most times have to come in the next morning to finish up the multiple flats and uboats left over from the other teams not getting their stuff done. And it seems to be their fault that stuff isn't done even though they are pulling the lions share of the work. We also seem to always have at least two pallets of repacks, plus multiple stacks 4-5 repacks high left over sometimes for days. That never used to happen.

Luckily for me the modernization changes haven't really impacted receiving at all. IRs don't drop on a regular schedule anymore, but that is easy enough to deal with. I'm just dreading the day they decide to train everyone to do receiving. There are so many things that can be royally messed up if multiple people do it.

 

[band_rules16]

GM does everything it can to not backup anymore. They have timelines they are supposed to meet and those timelines don't include doing anything other than their work. Backing up means they don't finish on time and get dinged for it. This new reality sucks for them and for other workcenters that rely on backup from GM. I had a 29(51) order drop and immediately after I entered it a 23(36) order dropped. I called it out to the SETL and he spent the next 5 minutes trying to get someone, anyone to jump into OPUs to help with that second order. He had to give up because it was *crickets* from GM. So that was a nice fat goal time not met. I've had to get SD intervention just to get my lunch covered recently lest I hit compliance. It sucks, but I get it. GM can't get their own work done. They don't have time to do mine.

I agree. We all have deadlines to meet though. I don't finish my tasks in market, I get seen as someone who is too slow and will probably get performanced out. It's not so much the backing up at the lanes though. It's the fact that everyone BUT GM is answering phone calls and guest questions on the floor FOR GM. Home furnishing call box goes off? A market TM or beauty has to clear it. A guest needs a microwave pulled? They find someone in market because no one is around. I had someone ask me for help in health & beauty and I didn't know offhand what he was looking for, so I called out for someone near there to assist him. Crickets. Usually I march right on over and do it myself, but then we run into not finishing tasks on time. Someone needs help in seasonal or sporting goods? They find the TMs in market.

I'm more than willing to help other areas. I like doing OPU and offer to help flex if they get slammed (and it doesn't affect my tasks). I can see the issue though. There's just got to be a better way to make this all work.

 

[countingsheep]

Found out today we are 230 pogs behind. Yay. Good thing no one knows how to do them our goal is to be 500 behind come Q4. . .sarcasm font is broken. . .like this idiotic company. . .

 

[speedy]

They have no one to call on to help bail them out when they need it. Why should they put themselves further and further into work debt by sending their TMs to other areas of the store?

And that's how I ended up with 37 hours this past week, despite only being scheduled 22. GM's push times exceeded scheduled times. I ended up staying late every day to get the freight finished.

 

[Ashfromoldsite]

To the idiot at hq that changed it so generic labels reorganize in numerical order when you print the batch....you are a moron.

 

[RedcardReba]

Uh oh, don't mention The Great Debacle that was Canada. Some of the kool aid drinkers here get apoplectic whenever it gets brought up. In some people's eyes, Target can do no wrong. Never mind they screwed a whole country. And of course, this modernization is totally different. It's too big to fail. Right.

Did you see news on CHASE credit in Canada?

The not only backed out of credit biz but just wrote off all credit debt.

 

[InboundGrunt]

I agree. We all have deadlines to meet though. I don't finish my tasks in market, I get seen as someone who is too slow and will probably get performanced out. It's not so much the backing up at the lanes though. It's the fact that everyone BUT GM is answering phone calls and guest questions on the floor FOR GM. Home furnishing call box goes off? A market TM or beauty has to clear it. A guest needs a microwave pulled? They find someone in market because no one is around. I had someone ask me for help in health & beauty and I didn't know offhand what he was looking for, so I called out for someone near there to assist him. Crickets. Usually I march right on over and do it myself, but then we run into not finishing tasks on time. Someone needs help in seasonal or sporting goods? They find the TMs in market.

You might as well be talking about my store. When I stay later in the day, almost all of the GMs are drowning in freight and are completely unable/willing to help cover the lanes or callboxes. That usually falls to Market Team. I find it super fascinating how these similar problems are infecting targets everywhere. The current DBO role being totally insane and having way too much workload is part of it.

Rolling backroom, flow and sales floor into one monolithic thing is a horrible idea and the concept itself is flawed. Imagine if the military dropped specializations and just had everyone do everything. No army, no navy, no air force, no marines. No dedicated tank operators, no snipers, no medics, no pilots. Every infantryman just had to jump into a particular role depending on the day. Not playing to the strengths of your people, no specialized training, no gaining proficiency in a particular role. It'd be an unmitigated disaster. I can see why a retailer would want something like this in theory but their execution of it has been halfassed and embarrassing.

My SD in not so many words blamed many of our problems on old flow TMs being unwilling to adapt to modernization, despite >60% of our team being gone since modernization began in my store. Reading the stories here, these issues run very deep and it seems clear to me it's more about how corporate have implemented the changes and simply throwing the blame on the bottom rung workers is denial from kool-aid drinkers.

 

[Shopgirl3]

/My senario of the day was: go in get the cleared, u boats set up/replaced, then finally unload and sort truck. Then once that was completed within 2 hrs or so, its break time. I was told to do my sort of the cosmetic repacks then do chemicals. I was like okay. I look at the pulls, I drop them. The pulls were a truck on their own. They are always a ridiculous amount in CHEM pretty much everyday. I feel for the guy that pushes CHEM. So I do that, then its time for lunch. Still 98/108 tasks to go. After lunch, I get it all done. I get to push the pulls. My lead pretty much was walking around and I could tell checking in on me. I was just going along and doing my job as fast as I could. Finally, those pulls got done. I could work on aisles 9-12 and my lead did the "heavy lifting". He boasted about I got all my product out and how long it took him. I said with a straight face good for you. And reminded him that these pulls for CHEM are always heavy. He goes I know but it should take you really about 20 minutes. If only I were pushing truck with a sugar rush lol But I went with my U boat and then we dog piled the last U boat. Lord knows we've been told one person per vehicle and here he wants the truck done so he won't get chewed out. And then some TMs get this checklist of tasks. And are they recording the times from when they clock in, start task and up until they clock out. Myself and others are doing the best we can to adapt and accept these changes, but really what's the use of the checklist if you are going to possibly use them against us and perfomance ppl out?

 

[flow4areasonuno]

almost all of the GMs are drowning in freight and are completely unable/willing to help cover the lanes or callboxes.

That's right. I mean if I answered even one call I wouldn't get my work done. I don't get it done as it is but I'd be even MORE behind. If my shifts were longer I might stand a chance of getting stuff done. But a 4 hour shift? Nah.

I haven't been on a register since I learned how to use one months ago. I would answer the call, but again, I'm already getting told off for not finishing all my tasks. Rather get grilled for not answering calls (one thing) than sitting and listening to a list of four things I didn't get done because I did answer a call.

I keep saying it...and the situation keeps getting worse.

 

[Tessa120]

Imagine if the military dropped specializations and just had everyone do everything. No army, no navy, no air force, no marines. No dedicated tank operators, no snipers, no medics, no pilots. Every infantryman just had to jump into a particular role depending on the day.

At Work, Expertise Is Falling Out of Favor

Notice this Navy ship has the lowest survival rating on their scale. And all the problems they've had since no one had in depth training and dedication to critical jobs. And how it was rushed in, skipping experimentation, because someone from a business background decreed it had to work.

 

[BackroomOG14]

Anyone else sort team becoming a "mini flow team" now? Next week start this new process, 5 sorters who work 6-1:30 and will push all P1 repacks, anything thats on a flat/pallet for P1 so most paper/pets/chemical/plastics. I guess theyre realizing that when you have a dedicated team to just push freight, it works alot better.

 

[Proficient]

Inbound has been P1 they're essentials bound for life that is if you stay back or scheduled later its mandatory to push at Spot there is never free time besides breaks.

 

[PackAndCry]

Some things I've noticed lately:

-Apparently, 11am unload is coming soon at my store, and eventually they want a midday unload everywhere, so the "salesfloor" flow team is there at the same time the store is busy. You know, because the time there should be tons of vehicles on the floor is when the store is busy. Also, doesn't that mean the autos will have stuff in them that's on the truck? Isn't that something we try to avoid?
-The "one for one" thing is totally pointless. Having 6 of something on the shelf as opposed to 5 doesn't increase sales in any meaningful way. This way of pulling was abandoned years ago for being pointless. Also, if they want less product in the backroom... maybe don't send stores so much product. And the manuals don't even fix the real issues, which are incorrect counts. Wouldn't that time be better spent researching outs? You know, the places that are empty?
-Zoning officially seems to be dead, now that the evening TMs are also having to push, and the unrealistic times given to push truck mean that none of the truck team bothers to "push as you go" like was supposed to happen.
-Set Workload in myWork is so comically slow, I feel like I'm being Punk'd when I open it. They can't seriously expect that to replace the Adjacency Calendar and TWT.

How stupid are the people who run this company?

 

[Targetedbullseye]

Their madness has no boundries, Q4 ought to be a real blast.

 

[Proficient]

Still nothing Flex team needs to be worried about we’ll still figure out ways to find shyt. That is if they don’t pull us out of our comfort to help their fucking GM salesfloor.

 

[PackAndCry]

Still nothing Flex team needs to be worried about we’ll still figure out ways to find shyt. That is if they don’t pull us out of our comfort to help their fucking GM salesfloor.

Well, we got told to still acknowledge the truck before 6am. Good luck finding items that are on the still-unloaded truck!

 

[Proficient]

Well, we got told to still acknowledge the truck before 6am. Good luck finding items that are on the still-unloaded truck!

Bruh my store already modernized we’re getting 8 trucks minimum per week they’re all acknowledged at 5am..