Archived How can this be legit?

[imared]

A former neighbor of mine moved several states away about a year ago. I hadn't heard from her until recently when she contacted me on FB asking some questions because she knew I worked for Spot.

Seems she went out and got herself a job at a spot near her. She then asked if volunteer events are required and what kind of volunteer events I have to do.

Seems that her store is hosting a volunteer event where TM's come into spot off the clock with their families and perform tasks that TM's would normally be paid to do. She's indignant because it's being promoted as a "family" event when it seems like they are being coerced into performing tasks for free and doesn't understand how it falls under "volunteering" since it benefits no one but Target. I suggested she speak to the STL and she said it's the STL's idea.

***Edited to add: Here it is: She said they are going to assemble and decorate all the Christmas trees that are normally displayed in seasonal in the store. The "volunteer" team members and their families will come in and work off the floor (I guess in the backroom maybe?)

Is a line being crossed here? How is this okay? How is this not "working off the clock?"

 

[commiecorvus]

Seems like it but I'm curious what the tasks are since normally the things that volunteers do are usually outside the store.

 

[imared]

It's very specific and I think it might out her location. I'll message you, if that's okay?

 

[commiecorvus]

Of course.

 

[Bosch]

I will say in 5 plus years at spot nothing has been in the store. Community events in our parking lot - sure. But nothing like cleaning or painting the store. If that is where the OP is going.

 

[redeye58]

Only volunteer event that took place in our store was the Dr. Seuss story time.
We used to clear an area in the kids' clothing dept, set out a bunch of beanbag seats near a table with cookies & selected Dr. Seuss books. Several of us took turns reading stories throughout the day while parents left their kids there as they shopped.

 

[BoxCutter]

If the volunteer events are "required," a call to the AP/Ethics Hotline is in order.

 

[imared]

Only volunteer event that took place in our store was the Dr. Seuss story time.
We used to clear an area in the kids' clothing dept, set out a bunch of beanbag seats near a table with cookies & selected Dr. Seuss books. Several of us took turns reading stories throughout the day while parents left their kids there as they shopped.

My store has done stuff like this too. This is a whole different animal.

 

[oath2order]

This is an Ethics Hotline thing for sure

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Could be..especially if it shows up in a review.

 

[imared]

I updated my OP to reflect the actual specifics of the event.

 

[RedMan]

No, not legit. That's working off the clock. Worker's Comp nightmare. AP nightmare. Division of Wage and Hour Compliance nightmare. Bad, bad, bad idea. Just say no.

 

[HardlinesFour]

Only volunteer event that took place in our store was the Dr. Seuss story time.
We used to clear an area in the kids' clothing dept, set out a bunch of beanbag seats near a table with cookies & selected Dr. Seuss books. Several of us took turns reading stories throughout the day while parents left their kids there as they shopped.

I actually volunteered one year. It was fun 🙂 Although, we did ours area in the food ave section, and put down a rug, along with some beanbags 🙂

One of us, (I didn't beg for it) got to take home the hat. I thought that was a really nice gesture.

 

[Bosch]

Only volunteer event that took place in our store was the Dr. Seuss story time.
We used to clear an area in the kids' clothing dept, set out a bunch of beanbag seats near a table with cookies & selected Dr. Seuss books. Several of us took turns reading stories throughout the day while parents left their kids there as they shopped.

Totally forgot about this one.

Building trees is voluntary but paid on the clock work. Otherwise hotline time.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Because spot stop doing dr Seuss, last year🙁

 

[commiecorvus]

Forgot about Storytime, that was pretty cool.
We also did the yearly police bike run which stopped right next next to the store, so maybe that too.

 

[GlobalTL123]

Yes they used to do this in the 90s. It was an overnight voluntary xmas tree decorating party and you could bring your families. Back before they were worried about lawsuits, etc. Back when spot used to be a fun company.

 

[commiecorvus]

Yes they used to do this in the 90s. It was an overnight voluntary xmas tree decorating party and you could bring your families. Back before they were worried about lawsuits, etc. Back when spot used to be a fun company.

Keyword 'voluntary', not being forced to 'volunteer'.
And it seems to me that a lot of what they are talking about setting up is work that Plano and Flow is supposed to be doing not family.

Now if it's a party and Spot is having everybody bring their family does the buying of some food and drink mean Spot doesn't have to pay wages?
Decorating the backroom or the office would be fun and done on your time but not the frelling store.

 

[Signkitty]

Can we have a bin building party too???

 

[NOP]

LOL...I'd love to see the day that decorating the trees (there's only one to decorate!) that go out on the floor in rear seasonal or fluffing them up is a volunteer event at my store.

Can we have a bin building party too???

Ooooooh. I LOVE this idea!

 

[jenna]

I decorated the trees two years in a row. This is considered work, and team members should be doing this on the clock.

 

[trowa03]

Isn't there something about the tree being donated or something along those lines? Whenever we (plano) set up the tree it was always on the clock paid time but I remember something about donating the tree.

 

[whippingboy]

Ours were donated in 2008, 2009... after that no one bothered to decorate them.

 

[Bosch]

Isn't there something about the tree being donated or something along those lines? Whenever we (plano) set up the tree it was always on the clock paid time but I remember something about donating the tree.

At the end of the season, but my store didn't donate crap last year - sold them all.. Cause sales are more important.. To quote my STL..

 

[Ringwraith917]

If the trees are not displayed, but go straight to donation it would be a great volunteer event. But if these are the trees that have to be built anyway for display then it's not cool. Call the hotline ASAP.