Archived Really Pissed Off - what would you do?

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doxiemama

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Our SrTL is an ass...let me first get that out of the way. He's insensitive, hyper, unfocused, messy rude and has this fanatical obsession with putting reshop away each night, even if it means foregoing zoning the store. That's always a little bit awkward when everybody arrives the next morning and the departments look half-done (which they are). Earlier this fall I had a really nasty upper respiratory infection. The Store TL picked up when I called in sick and he couldn't have been nicer. He told me he hoped I felt better soon and when I did get back to the store, he specifically asked me how I was doing. Ass answered the phone the second day and even though I had laryngitis and was coughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath, he tells me I had better have a doctor's excuse with a very threatening tone of voice.

Let me say that I am generally very dependable. I come in on a moments notice if they need somebody because another TM called off. I stay late whenever they ask me to and I do whatever I am asked to do, including cleaning up pee from a fitting room and disposing of a soaking wet diaper that some rude guest left behind. I digress.

Tonight, the Ass was the LOD. He went into his usual rant about getting the reshop done. And then he threw in a threat and announced that he was not going to let anybody leave the store until everything was done. His logic was that would be an incentive for us to move faster. I think all of us were moving at breakneck speed already. The store was a mess and there was just a ridiculous amount of reshop. When he told us for the third time we weren't going to be allowed to leave and I realized how late it was getting, I got on the walkie and privately told him that I could not possibly stay beyond 11:30pm tonight. Without bothering to find out why, he told me that was the way it had to be and while it was unfortunate, he expected me to stay put like everybody else. I tried to protest and he just shut me down.

What he didn't know was that this was the first year anniversary of my Mom's death. She died the morning of Black Friday last year. I was getting ready to go to work when my Dad called, I let the store know, then headed to the airport to catch a flight to where my parents lived. The actual date is Saturday (which is now, I guess), but in my mind, it will always be Black Friday. I didn't ask for time off this year because I figured they would need people and I could manage my emotions ok. But by tonight, I was tired and I was starting to really get upset. I wanted to go home and be with my family. I wanted to spend some quiet time grieving. I had given Target 100% and it was time for me to deal with my own sadness. And that crappy manager told me I had to stay until the reshop was taken care of and he didn't care how long that took.

He never once asked me whether there might be a good reason why I needed to get out of there. I honestly couldn't decide whether I was going to fling a quad across the girl's department or just crumble down onto the floor and let it all out. I finished my cart then went back to the fitting room. My ETL was there and I just looked at her and said I have got to go home. I explained why and she said to just go. She'd deal with any flack. So I went and I cried all the way home, partly out of grief and partly out of frustration.

I like my store. I really enjoy the people and the guests and while the pays sucks, I look forward to going in. However, I don't think I can be around this jerk anymore. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He just dismissed me and changed the channel on his walkie. I'm not about to confront him. His mere presence makes me too upset these days. I'm debating about going to the STL to discuss this because I have a reasonably good relationship with him. I'm also thinking about calling the hotline. I know that the odds are that it won't remain anonymous, but I'm not sure I care that much. But if it's only going to come back to the store, I'd just as soon talk to somebody in a position to do something and who will hear me out.

The sad thing is that several other folks where venting to me tonight about the Ass. Lately, no matter what we're told to do, he overrides it, including telling guests that we would do price matching today after we were strictly warned off of it. Guest Services people were ready to throw in the towel since it didn't seem to matter what the policies were. One guy was livid about the entire thing because he said if one of the senior people aren't going to follow the rules, why did everybody make such a big deal out of them. I'm not the only one who finds him intolerable.

Anyway, it helps to just get this rant out. But beyond that, does anybody have any thoughts on how to handle this? If I knew far enough in advance what his schedule was going to be, I'd start looking for people to cover my shifts if I knew he was going to be LOD. I seriously don't mind doing reshop. But I don't like this feeling that I'm being held hostage in the store. And I really don't like his unwillingness to cut somebody slack if they have something personal going on. At the least, he could have asked why I needed to leave so badly. I was scheduled until 11:30pm. I left at 11:45pm and people were still on the floor trying to get things done so they could all go home without invoking his wrath. Fortunately, I don't have to be back until late Sunday afternoon.

And here it is, 4:30am, and I'm still so worked up that I can't sleep.
 
First of all, I'm very sorry for your loss. My mother also passed away unexpectedly on a holiday, so I understand.

Now onto the ass. NO TL, SrTL or ETL (or even the STL) can MAKE you stay past your scheduled out time. They can't SEND you home before you scheduled out time either, you have to agree. That being said they CAN theoretically give you less hours in the future if you don't stay late or leave early when "asked". I feel that if a Target ever gets unionized it will be because of this attitude. I feel that Target takes FULL advantage of having a staff that is ignorant of their rights. My store has a lot of college kids who have only ever worked for Target and I have heard them say that they were "made" to stay late or "sent" home early. In many conversations about this they have indicated that they do not know that THEY have a choice in this matter.

If you have a decent ETL HR I would talk to that person, if not I would talk to your STL. I have found that TL's (and some ETL's) don't know basic labor rules and Target pushes the bounderies on them all the time anyway, so I'm sure many think that the CAN do whatever they want. I would definitely try to talk to someone at your store before calling the Integrity Hotline. Hope this helps!
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. I also lost family around the holidays, so I know what you're going through ((HUGS))

I agree with what was said. Try speaking to HR first. Basically, this SrTL is bullying everyone into doing what HE wants, and that's not right.
 
I'm not sales floor, so I've never been told I "had" to stay. I think a better option is not to "ask" to leave, but to simply announce on the walkie you're headed out, clock out and leave. They can't make you stay past your scheduled time. Sounds to me you should never engage with that SrTL unless absolutely necessary. If the doors are locked, go to an ETL first if one's there. If that SrTL is the only keyed person that day, tell him you've clocked out and ask him to unlock the door. He'll probably be a dick and everything, but I doubt he'd be dumb enough to not let you out.
 
Just leave. If you are scheduled out at 11:30, work until 11:30 and leave. The LOD should have a grid. If they try to contact you after you're scheduled out, it will quickly become apparent you are gone.

Now, you can be respectful and tell them you are leaving. I do that. But if I got pushback like you mentioned, oh sorry, I can't stay. Turn around walk to the time clock and leave.

As far as opening the door, the alarm shouldn't be on. Why would it be? Just leave. If it is on, give them two chances to come disarm it in 5 minutes. Otherwise, leave. It will only need to happen once for the alarm to go off.

I have to add, a little respect goes a long way. If you have open communication with your leaders, these problems won't normally happen.

But, like you, I've a couple dicks over the years who think they are God. I've outlasted them all.
 
But, like you, I've [worked with] a couple [of] dicks over the years who think they are God. I've outlasted them all.

QFT.

Eventually, they all leave.

-
OP, sorry that happened to you. It is not right. Please document everything, and then approach your ETL, ETL - HR, or STL - whomever you are most comfortable talking with.

There's not much you can do about his focus in the reshop vs. the zone, but he can't make you stay past your scheduled shift.

And I am sorry for your loss. You are an asset to your store, and they are lucky to have you. Please don't let that one person drive you away.

ETA: Also encourage your other team members to step forward and speak up re: the SRTL.
 
He cannot make you stay. That is illegal, and if you were locked in the store, it was KIDNAPPING. FIRSTLY i would've mentioned that if he didn't let me leave i would call the police to escort me.
I would call the hotline. That way your store is forced to deal with hin. kre
 
Thanks for all of your advice. The major glitch right now is that we don't have an HR person around. One is coming but not sure when. I know I probably should have just walked but he's got enough influence that I think he could mess with my schedule. My store closes at 10, 11 right now and we're scheduled until 10:30, 11:30 through the holidays. I'm thinking of changing my availability to 10 pm. That way, I don't ever have to deal with this again. Ironically, I was scheduled to leave at 10 earlier this week. I offered to stay until 10:30 since there was still a lot to do. That LOD refused to give me the extra 30 minutes because the STL had made it clear we were over our hours and he just couldn't afford to give anybody any more time. In fact, some people's hours were cut back in the days before Thanksgiving. As usual, this guy figured the rules don't apply to him. I plan to wait until we get past the holiday but even then I'm concerned about STL's state of mind. If I heard correctly, sales were down about 20% for Thanksgiving vs. last year. It may take a while before he's in his usual good mood again. At least my ETL was aware of things, although I probably should have said something sooner. I don't know if she would step forward. If it happens again, I will clock out. I just was too concerned about making waves. I'm pretty sure he already views me as trouble after that thing with being sick.
 
Thanks for all of your advice. The major glitch right now is that we don't have an HR person around. One is coming but not sure when. I know I probably should have just walked but he's got enough influence that I think he could mess with my schedule. My store closes at 10, 11 right now and we're scheduled until 10:30, 11:30 through the holidays. I'm thinking of changing my availability to 10 pm. That way, I don't ever have to deal with this again. Ironically, I was scheduled to leave at 10 earlier this week. I offered to stay until 10:30 since there was still a lot to do. That LOD refused to give me the extra 30 minutes because the STL had made it clear we were over our hours and he just couldn't afford to give anybody any more time. In fact, some people's hours were cut back in the days before Thanksgiving. As usual, this guy figured the rules don't apply to him. I plan to wait until we get past the holiday but even then I'm concerned about STL's state of mind. If I heard correctly, sales were down about 20% for Thanksgiving vs. last year. It may take a while before he's in his usual good mood again. At least my ETL was aware of things, although I probably should have said something sooner. I don't know if she would step forward. If it happens again, I will clock out. I just was too concerned about making waves. I'm pretty sure he already views me as trouble after that thing with being sick.

You may make waves. That might be unavoidable. So? The alternative is to let him walk all over you. That's a decision YOU will have to make. And you'll have to deal with the consequences. No avoiding that.

You can call another store's HR ETL. Since your store doesn't have one, that is a good alternative. Someone with an objective viewpoint. Tell them all that has happened. Also, mention you are afraid of retaliation, which you implied in your post ... "messing with my schedule."

If you don't stand up for yourself, no one will do it for you.
 
Sorry for your loss. Like others have said NO ONE can make you stay past your scheduled time. The fact that you were in a locked building and the srtl told you he wasn't going to let any one leave until the work was done is a big no no. Spot can ask you to stay, but they cant make you stay . With that being said they can make your work life a living hell but they cant make you stay. I am not sure how your etl/hr does his or her job. Ie are they trust worthy, when you go to them with an issue...at leat pretend to impartial/understanding things like that. IF your etl/ hr at least attempts to do their job correctly then I would talk to them...if they don't then I would call the hotline. You were not the only person in the building that night....so they wouldn't know it was you that called unless you got real specific. Just read your other post where you said that you don't have a hr right now. If there is another leader in the building you could talk to I would do that if not then I would do the hotline Once again, sorry for your loss...you have enough to deal with...without adding Spot into the mix
 
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Now onto the ass. NO TL, SrTL or ETL (or even the STL) can MAKE you stay past your scheduled out time. They can't SEND you home before you scheduled out time either, you have to agree. That being said they CAN theoretically give you less hours in the future if you don't stay late or leave early when "asked". I feel that if a Target ever gets unionized it will be because of this attitude. I feel that Target takes FULL advantage of having a staff that is ignorant of their rights.

I worked for Meijer, which is unionized by the UFCW. If a team leader asked you stay late, you had too. If you left, after being 'extended' you would get an attendance point. It was in the contract.

The only advantage to staying was that if your shift was longer then 8 hours, you get would time and a half.
 
Like it was stated before, no one can make you stay past your scheduled shift unless you agree to it. There comes a time when you need to speak up for yourself. This is one of those times. Abuse should never be tolerated and if he is doing this, he needs to be dealt with. I can only imagine how he is with his direct work center team. Also, I'm very sorry for your loss. *Hug*
 
I first want to say that I am so sorry for your loss! Now about the ass... Try talking to your ETL-HR about it but if nothing gets done than speak to your STL. and if nothing still gets done than call the integrity hotline. I know it is tempting to call the hotline first but when you report something without trying the store level first and when they do an investigation they may not take it as seriously and than your store management may not be too happy about it.
 
Doxie, a hug for your loss (this is the time of year I lost a few relatives).
Since your STL is occupied & you don't have an ETL-HR at the moment, I'd talk to the ETL who told you to leave that night & see if she can guide you.
Barring that, your idea of an avail change BUT it may be denied at this time of year.
If nothing else, you may just have to talk to your STL.
 
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