Archived Ex ETL AMA (ask me anything)

[tgtgrl4life]

This is just a question for all: why is it so hard to leave Target for something better in life? I feel like that basically describes me at this moment.

I don't know about you, but I thought the same thing for a very long time. Until I got out. And believe me, I was one of the ones that always dreamed of getting out, but didn't ever think I would. Neither did anyone else. And then when I did, it was a total shock to everyone else, so much that others who had been there as long as I had started following suit.

One of the reasons it took so long was that all I ever heard was that "the grass isn't always greener on the other side." But, the people telling me that weren't the ones that had left. It was coming from the ones that were still there. It took awhile for me to finally realize that they just wanted me to stay with them on the sinking ship so that they weren't the last ones on board.

Another reason was that I had been there for so long, that I remember the ways things used to be and how things used to run. I remember when Target was a great place to work, and that no matter how much work there was, everyone worked together and got it done. The team was an actual team…not just one solitary, lonely team member on the sales floor to do everything. There used to be a time when we weren't infatuated with saving payroll or cutting costs…and obviously we were profitable, because we continued to open stores and make more money.

I think that all you need to do is take the first step and start looking. And when you start looking, don't stop when you have a good day at Target. Keep at it. And then, if you're lucky enough to get an interview somewhere, take it. For the longest time I didn't get any interviews, and I thought it was because Target was the only thing I knew. They didn't care about my educational background or management experience. But, someone told me all you need is one person to take a chance on you. And that's all it took.

Leaving Target was the best thing for me. I no longer have to deal with that kind of stress anymore, and I am thankful that someone else took a chance on me. I miss a few of my peers like crazy, but now it's so much easier to have a normal out-of-work friendship (especially with every weekend off!).

So, I say Go For It! Believe me, you will be glad you did!

 

[dragon80]

Just got a new STL. Talk about your rookie blue. This kid has no time and doesn't know how to run a store.

My question is would you ever talk down to your employes. With things such as...
1) STL ask what is taking you so long.
2) STL tells you your not efficient at doing your job
3) Asked the STL for a backstock cart since he came to the store. Since i don't have a proper one. I did use a pallet. Gave me the run around. So now i just put the products on the floor.
4) My TL doesn't take the backstock to the backroom. I have to pull it back
5) My TL don't clean up any chemical spills.
6) If you have a problem and tell the HR person. They will tell other people in the store.
7) TL tell you that you don't need a PDA to do repack. You should know where everything is.

 

[mrknownothing]

@dragon80 I hope you're not at my store. I have a new STL whom I have not met yet.

 

[dragon80]

The whole store is very dissatisfied from the survey we were forced to take. You know the one that was optional to take. The STL forced the TL to make us take it.

 

[pfreshdude]

The whole store is very dissatisfied from the survey we were forced to take. You know the one that was optional to take. The STL forced the TL to make us take it.

I thought the best team survey was mandatory........unless you are talking about another one.

 

[Bosch]

The whole store is very dissatisfied from the survey we were forced to take. You know the one that was optional to take. The STL forced the TL to make us take it.

I thought the best team survey was mandatory........unless you are talking about another one.

We were scheduled to take it, nothing voluntary about BTS in my store. So they got the worst response they could get - grumpy cat would have been nicer.

 

[wokkawokka]

Speaking of, when do the BTS results usually coming out? I'm curious to see because I'll bet you five dollars we got slammed. If the droves of people quitting and getting new jobs is any indication, TM's are not happy with the state of our store right now. I know I'm not; this was the first year I've surveyed anything less than the excellent range. So if they drove me to ding them on the survey, and I'm one of the most easy-going people ever, I shudder to think how other people rated it.

*grabs the popcorn and sits on back to watch the fireworks*

 

[whippingboy]

Question for the ex ETL if he is still watching... if there is a "surprise" steritech visit, are you forewarned? Also, if there is a "visit" from your superiors are you always forewarned? It seems as if nothing surprises them at my store and they are riding everyone for visits... often the visit never happens.

Also I am curious.. do you feel that Target is cheapening out? Like they are forcing underpaid people to be supervisors? I've felt this since the days of deeming employees "zone captains". At my store they are rolling heads (especially Team Leads) to cut costs. I've heard that four of our ETLs our transferring to other stores, likely to cut costs.

Final question.. if there is a Team Lead that is "untouchable", i.e. besties with an ETL, is there any way of them possiblly getting fired? To include texting off the clock and insubordination. Thank you in advance for your insight.

 

[wokkawokka]

As a PA, I can tell you that Steritech visits are truly unannounced but there are specific parameters. For instance, they visit on a rotating 6-8 week schedule, and we are informed of the start and end dates at the beginning of the year. Also, they don't show up after a certain time in the evening (5pm I think?), weekends, and certain blacked out holidays. Also, most of December is blacked out due to it being the craziest part of 4th quarter.

So anyway, we get a date range (i.e. 4/1-5/16) and once they visit in that range, they won't come again until the next cycle. Sometimes they come at the beginning, sometimes the middle, sometimes the end; sometimes we get a visit 3 or 4 weeks apart because they'll come at the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next. Usually I can suss out when they might be coming based on how far we are into the current cycle and how long it's been. Last cycle, Steritech came on the LAST possible day so we pretty much knew exactly when they were coming (and still managed to fail; that takes special talent, eh?).

 

[whippingboy]

Yeah, we're warned in that matter as well. It's obviously a cycle so we get a general idea of when, though a four week notice isn't very helpful. I'm just curious if "surprise" steritech visits are truly a surprise. If someone snitches on the store's current policies (or lack thereof).

 

[sigma7]

July 10th is when BTS results are available to your STL and ETL-HR.

 

[tgtguy]

For the first time, this year with the BTS survery , I had a etl come and get me...told me he needed to see me up front in the Team lead office area so I think great what do they think I have done wrong now...al the way up there I am going over and over in my head wtf could I had done...I get up there he says...well you need to take the bts survey. So, I was relieved but I thought why did you come get me like that etc. He had to explain to me ..all the improvements the current stl had made before I was allowed to take the bts. I thought to myself...IF these changes were so great I really wouldn't need you to remind me right before I take a survey.. Come to find out they did this to everyone.

 

[Noiinteam]

Wow tgtguy , that's sketchy behavior. I know that wouldn't influence you one way or the other. My STL came to me on the floor and just told me what time to take the survey.

 

[tgtguy]

Wow tgtguy , that's sketchy behavior. I know that wouldn't influence you one way or the other. My STL came to me on the floor and just told me what time to take the survey.

Yeah, it was very odd...I mean the etl literally walked with me into the computer room...and shut the door...and then explained all the things they had done to improve since last year....it was very odd to say the least . Usually there would be three of us taking it at a time since there are three computers in the computer room....but this year they would only allow one at a time...and you had to get the "talk"from a etl prior

 

[Noiinteam]

Okay, every tm was escorted and got a talk! WTF seems like upper management knows they have issues and at last minute, trying to cover their ass. We never get feedback at my store do you? Do you think your store is in worse shape than last year? Obviously management does. They think and chat and walk will clear up issues? Wow

 

[tgtguy]

Okay, every tm was escorted and got a talk! WTF seems like upper management knows they have issues and at last minute, trying to cover their ass. We never get feedback at my store do you? Do you think your store is in worse shape than last year? Obviously management does. They think and chat and walk will clear up issues? Wow

Well, I was the first one to take the survey from my understanding maybe the first 10 ppl the etl went and got them...but after that they would just overhead them to go to the front...I guess they got lazy and didn't want to t walk any more . My store bts survey for last year...I don't know who it went...because when we did the feedback meeting we weren't told...all they talking about was how the etl log was the problem buit he had been fired etc...the stl was the main problem she was still there ( at that time) which I brought up) ....so we were never told the actual results of the survey just...we know you are unhappy with such and such etl...but hes gone now...so let it go. This year I don't see how they did any better...the new stl... we have a new e h r ....so maybe we will see how it goes. they know we are all unhappy and they know why...but they refuse to deal with it

 

[commiecorvus]

@tgtguy that is clearly not how the survey is supposed to be done.
They were breaking all kinds of rules, if not actual than implied.
I have the feeling your store must have tanked last year and they are desperate to move up this year.
It really does seem like this is one of those situations where the integrity line would be called for because they clearly have none.
Sadly, I suspect nothing would come of it.

 

[Bosch]

@tgtguy that is clearly not how the survey is supposed to be done.
They were breaking all kinds of rules, if not actual than implied.
I have the feeling your store must have tanked last year and they are desperate to move up this year.
It really does seem like this is one of those situations where the integrity line would be called for because they clearly have none.
Sadly, I suspect nothing would come of it.

That is when you call the hotline and really slam them on the survey. And make it ugly.

 

[tgtguy]

@tgtguy that is clearly not how the survey is supposed to be done.
They were breaking all kinds of rules, if not actual than implied.
I have the feeling your store must have tanked last year and they are desperate to move up this year.
It really does seem like this is one of those situations where the integrity line would be called for because they clearly have none.
Sadly, I suspect nothing would come of it.

I have been taking them for years and its the first time I have ever had them carry me in there shut the door and read a list of things they had off, of a paper to me. I almost expected the etl to ask if I needed him to read the questions out loud to me

 

[commiecorvus]

@tgtguy that is clearly not how the survey is supposed to be done.
They were breaking all kinds of rules, if not actual than implied.
I have the feeling your store must have tanked last year and they are desperate to move up this year.
It really does seem like this is one of those situations where the integrity line would be called for because they clearly have none.
Sadly, I suspect nothing would come of it.

I have been taking them for years and its the first time I have ever had them carry me in there shut the door and read a list of things they had off, of a paper to me. I almost expected the etl to ask if I needed him to read the questions out loud to me

You should have asked if it would just be easier for him to take it for you.

 

[tgtguy]

@tgtguy that is clearly not how the survey is supposed to be done.
They were breaking all kinds of rules, if not actual than implied.
I have the feeling your store must have tanked last year and they are desperate to move up this year.
It really does seem like this is one of those situations where the integrity line would be called for because they clearly have none.
Sadly, I suspect nothing would come of it.

I have been taking them for years and its the first time I have ever had them carry me in there shut the door and read a list of things they had off, of a paper to me. I almost expected the etl to ask if I needed him to read the questions out loud to me

You should have asked if it would just be easier for him to take it for you.

True,I didn't even need to be there

 

[luna831]

What happens if customers said you were yelling when offering a red card

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

What happens if customers said you were yelling when offering a red card

Let your tl or gstl handle it.