Archived Purposely scheduled to give least amount of breaks possible?

[HLN13]

Do all Target's, or even all stores for that matter, purposely schedule you so that you get as little amount of breaks as possible? Ex: at my store they frequently schedule people for 7 hours 45 mins to avoid giving a third break, or 5 hours 45 mins to avoid giving a lunch. I'm not sure if this is just like something that is expected, but it seems really stupid to me...

 

[MM1MM2]

I'd rather be scheduled 5 hours and 45 minutes than 6 hours and having to take a lunch or either running to the time clock and punching out before going into compliance.

At my store most people are seldom scheduled to take 2 breaks, some people still take 2 if they are scheduled 7.5 hours. No one says anything.

 

[BullseyeBabe]

We are starting to do this with our cashiers. 5.45 hours so they do not get a lunch and 6.45 hours so they don't get a second break. As a former cashier, I think it's petty.

 

[Kartman]

Just remember - all those numbers add up to a substantial amount, nationwide.

I can see their point.

 

[HLN13]

Just remember - all those numbers add up to a substantial amount, nationwide.

I can see their point.

Of course, but what does giving someone a lunch do? It's unpaid anyways.

 

[HRZone]

We are starting to do this with our cashiers. 5.45 hours so they do not get a lunch and 6.45 hours so they don't get a second break. As a former cashier, I think it's petty.

That's dumb. When you schedule people like that all it takes is one guest stopping them for them to hit compliance.

? Ex: at my store they frequently schedule people for 7 hours 45 mins to avoid giving a third break,

It depends on your state laws. At ours anything over six gives you an extra break.

I'd rather be scheduled 5 hours and 45 minutes than 6 hours and having to take a lunch or either running to the time clock and punching out before going into compliance.

Exactly this. Why schedule someone from 8am to 1 pm (exactly 5 hours) so they have to take a lunch at 12 (4 hour state) when I can just schedule them from 8 to 1230 then they can go home sooner? Either way they are working 4.5 hours.

 

[SFSFun]

Why schedule someone from 8am to 1 pm (exactly 5 hours) so they have to take a lunch at 12 (4 hour state) when I can just schedule them from 8 to 1230 then they can go home sooner? Either way they are working 4.5 hours.

Try telling that to my STL, who freaks out if you try to cut OT by going home early instead of taking an extended lunch. It's still the same amount of hours and the same amount of work getting done.

 

[graffiti]

My store actually schedules most TMs reasonable shifts (though there was a period they would give 5.5 hour shifts...and then try to force us to take lunches at the 5th hour, in a 6 hour meal break state. Did not go over well!) My old store rarely wanted to give TMs shifts long enough to even take lunches, much less second breaks.

But I rarely ever take the number of breaks I'm allowed. Partly because I usually have too much work to finish, partly because we get to take our second 15 at 7 hours in and if I'm working 7-8 hours I probably took my lunch as late as possible and am not tired yet anyway.

Try telling that to my STL, who freaks out if you try to cut OT by going home early instead of taking an extended lunch. It's still the same amount of hours and the same amount of work getting done.

That only makes sense to me if you have a position that requires floor coverage. When it's a workload-based position, I don't see the difference either!

 

[Frontlanegirl]

We are a 5-hour compliance state and often our cashiers are scheduled 4.5 hours. I know most cashiers would prefer to go home at 4.5 hours instead of having to take a lunch. A lot of the times I don't get a last break due to lack of coverage.

 

[redeye58]

Just remember - all those numbers add up to a substantial amount, nationwide.
I can see their point.

By denying someone a lunch via scheduling, they are gaming the payroll metrics by keeping coverage lean.
At my store, cashiers in particular call out/run late/NCNS more than any other area except flow.
If someone is running 30 min-1 hr late, you could ask a cashier already there to stay long enough until the tardy TM shows up.
But if they're already close to noncompliance, you've screwed yourself since they'll need a lunch during the time you need coverage.

Of course, but what does giving someone a lunch do? It's unpaid anyways.

Exactly.
What does staying & taking a lunch do? stretches coverage a half hr longer.
At Starbucks it can mean the difference whether someone can take their lunch during that last half hr you're there or come close to compliance waiting for the closer to come in so you can bolt for the time clock.

 

[HRZone]

But I rarely ever take the number of breaks I'm allowed. Partly because I usually have too much work to finish, partly because we get to take our second 15 at 7 hours in and if I'm working 7-8 hours I probably took my lunch as late as possible and am not tired yet anyway.

Don't give your breaks away. Not just because you deserve it but it can come back to haunt you. My ETL HR put out receiver on a final because she never took her breaks despite several discussions.

They are asking too much of you if you can't get a break in.

 

[graffiti]

Don't give your breaks away. Not just because you deserve it but it can come back to haunt you. My ETL HR put out receiver on a final because she never took her breaks despite several discussions.

They are asking too much of you if you can't get a break in.

I definitely agree with that last part, lol. But having spent the last few years doing flow at 2 separate stores I can definitely say we're 1000% more likely to get talked to for not getting our work done in our unrealistic goal times than the weeks-worth of free money we give them for not taking our permitted breaks. And I know other workload-based work centers feel the same pressure.

 

[NKG]

Not always does the LOD like it that you take a break but they can't stop you.

"LOD, Nokiddie is going on their 15"

::::crickets::::

Fast service needed in domestics


"Nokiddie can you get that call box"


I know you heard and saw me going to my break.

 

[buliSBI]

It was customary at one of my stores to schedule Front End TMs exactly 6hrs but no lunch was provided. The rule was that you had to clock in late/out early to make it only 5hr55min. Then compliance got stricter, and if you were scheduled 5.5 and closing or exactly 6hr, you had to take a lunch. It was a-hole scheduling for closers.

But we always got a 2nd 15min break if scheduled 6.5 or more and closing.

 

[Bosch]

It was customary at one of my stores to schedule Front End TMs exactly 6hrs but no lunch was provided. The rule was that you had to clock in late/out early to make it only 5hr55min. Then compliance got stricter, and if you were scheduled 5.5 and closing or exactly 6hr, you had to take a lunch. It was a-hole scheduling for closers.

But we always got a 2nd 15min break if scheduled 6.5 or more and closing.

Nope if I am in a six hour state and you didn't schedule a lunch I am not cheating the clock to save your ass. Learn to write a schedule properly. Not to mention that clock in/out game could be considered illegal.

 

[HRZone]

Nope if I am in a six hour state and you didn't schedule a lunch I am not cheating the clock to save your ass. Learn to write a schedule properly. Not to mention that clock in/out game could be considered illegal.

Yup, my etl hr coached a tm for hitting compliance. I reminded her it's our fault for giving her an exactly 5 hour shift. She clocked in right at 8 and left at 1:01.

 

[buliSBI]

Nope if I am in a six hour state and you didn't schedule a lunch I am not cheating the clock to save your ass. Learn to write a schedule properly. Not to mention that clock in/out game could be considered illegal.

I am sure that's why my schedule makers at that time probably didn't last long. And compliance got stricter.

 

[Frontlanegirl]

Don't give your breaks away. Not just because you deserve it but it can come back to haunt you. My ETL HR put out receiver on a final because she never took her breaks despite several discussions.

They are asking too much of you if you can't get a break in.

If you are on the front end/GS and there is not enough coverage in an evening to get in your last break what is one to do?

 

[Bosch]

If you are on the front end/GS and there is not enough coverage in an evening to get in your last break what is one to do?

If you don't get that break you are scheduled for but not given put in a punch correction for that 15min.. Talk to HR and ask "Hey why are breaks not covered for closers?"

 

[HRZone]

If you are on the front end/GS and there is not enough coverage in an evening to get in your last break what is one to do?

Then some etl needs to come out of their office and give you a break. Q4 our etl hr was the guest service break giver when we didn't have anyone else to do it.

 

[Frontlanegirl]

If you don't get that break you are scheduled for but not given put in a punch correction for that 15min.. Talk to HR and ask "Hey why are breaks not covered for closers?"

There is going to be a daily punch correction for all those closing shifts. I know I am not the only one not getting my last break. Don't tell me to take it and wait the 15 minutes after the store closes. That is a total waste of my time.

 

[pinkp2ie]

If you are on the front end/GS and there is not enough coverage in an evening to get in your last break what is one to do?

What the GSA did was just chill at guest service on there phone enjoying there break with the walkie on. I did the same for electronics last 15 when no one could & I wasn't behind.

 

[defang]

I almost never get my last 15 unless I have someone who is GSA trained or better. Unfortunately I've gotten used to it

 

[HRZone]

I almost never get my last 15 unless I have someone who is GSA trained or better. Unfortunately I've gotten used to it

Why don't you guys just train a cashier who can give the gsa a break? Blows me away how poorly some stores plan

 

[TTGOz]

My store GSAs and GSTLS say the same thing about never getting last 15. A few cashiers are trained to be able to do it for at least 15 minutes, but they never cover the breaks because no one ever asks them.