Archived What is the point of being a GSA...really?

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julyblues

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This is a bit of a question and a bit of a rant. I was an external hire in the beginning of August, with no retail experience and applied to be a cashier or guest service TM. I was recommended for the GSA opening at my store after my first interview because I have a bachelor's and just over two years in the service industry. After the second interview I was hired as a GSA and things were okay at best. Early on I was stressed because of the amount of information I needed to learn in order to properly "lead" TMs, some who had been at the store longer than I've been out of high school. I enjoyed the challenge though, and my two GSTLs seemed to enjoy their work, so I figured I'd settle in eventually. I'm comfortable running the front now for the most part, and feel that I am a good worker and I've received good feedback from my GSTLs, as well as the LODs and STL.

I'm absolutely miserable though, and I dread being a GSA. I'm jaded and I know it, but all things considered, I wholeheartedly believe that it is the second worst position in my store, only beaten by cart attendant.

Pros:
+ I get more hours than cashiers (I'd include guest service team members, but for the most part it's the GSAs working the service desk with a rotation of 3-4 cashiers that are also GS trained)
+ "It's easier to promote a GSA than a regular TM" (Quote from STL)
+ I get to choose when I take my breaks*

Cons:
- I make the same amount of money as cashier/cart attendants/GSTMs (There is nobody in the store that makes less per/hr than I do [unless you count Target mobile, but they make commission])
- I feel like I have to skip at least one of my 15s, if not both, every single shift
- Held to the same standards as a GSTL
- Terrible schedule (I close between 2-5x a week, and I ALWAYS close Friday, Saturday, and clopen into Sunday, the rest of my schedule is a toss-up every week) Some weeks I am scheduled for 28 hours, and then the next week I have 42...like???
- I'm not allowed/supposed to coach TMs, but when I bring up concerns to a GSTL/LOD either in person or in my closing e-mail, nothing is done about the situation

I've expressed my gripes with the position to my GSTL, and had chatted with the STL while we were closing about getting transferred to another section of the store. I basically let her know that I absolutely hate the GSA and see no benefit outside of getting more scheduled hours. Her main selling point was that it's easier for her to promote a GSA than a regular TM because she can already see the leadership qualities of the person and will have a better judgment on if they're fit for a TL role. I know ASANTS, but at my store, a GSA being promoted to a TL is pretty much unheard of. You either get sucked dry and leave the store, or eventually transfer to another section. If you include the three current GSAs at my store (myself being 1), only 1 GSA out of 10 has been promoted to a TL role, and they had to transfer stores for the promotion. I do not see an opening for a TL role at my store in the near future, and even if there was, there is a GSA who has been there for nearly 2 years, so I'm sure that she would be considered before I would.

I agreed I would stay in the role through the holidays to give them time to find/train someone to replace me, but I"m really regretting that as I feel like I NEED to leave this role immediately. Am I missing something? Or is GSA just a sham to have extra GSTLs without having to cough up the pay? I do not see the point in staying up front working terrible shifts, fixing problems that all the other TMs both in and out of the front cause, dealing with guests, and being expected to work like a TL, all while being paid the same as a seasonal cashier. Especially when I could go somewhere like market, have a consistent, reliable schedule, both in terms of weekly hours and shift times, make $0.50/hr more, deal with guests less often and with less difficult issues, etc.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for retail. I feel like I do my job well, but I've never hated going to work this much. I've been here for 4 months and I've already started looking for other jobs and I dream about putting in my 2 weeks. Management is a disgrace. I'm sorry this post is so long, but I'm having trouble differentiating my problems with the position vs. problems with my specific store. Perhaps GSA is a more rewarding position at other stores and I just need to transfer as a GSA to a different store?
 
if transferring to another store is feasible. Then, apply for TL position at another store. Now, I can relate to the feeling. You thinking that you are “basically working like a TL” and not getting paid like a TL. Well, Carrie you are not a TL. You are a GSA. Just like a cashier is a cashier and a Cart Attendant is a Cart Attendant.
We all have our roles to play , at work and in life.
If you feel that you deserve TL pay, cause lets face it, thats what it comes down to, then please apply for a TL position.
 
Just some extra info, this part is all rant: the incident that set me off tonight is as follows:

GS closer calls off, SCO closer quit 2 weeks ago but nobody picked up her shift and nobody was asked to cover it. And ofc nobody is coming in to work on their Friday off.
I'm stuck watching the absolute shit storm of the front, with one GSTM who leaves at 6:30, and 3 cashiers since I had to scalp one for SCO. I came in to take over the front from one of the GSTLs, who informed me of the situation, though I already knew we had C/Os since I saw they posted in our store facebook group to see if anybody wanted to come in. I come in at 4:00PM and she explains that one of the two SBux members is GS trained, and when my GSTM leaves at 6:30, the girl from SBux will cover it and we'll just have to close it at 9 since that's when she was scheduled to leave. I say okay and get to work, and see the LOD who checks in with me around 4:45 due to the call-offs. She seconds the plan to cover GS, and was already informed of what was happening. After 2 hours of trying to help with the line at GS, and attending to cashiers, I finally make my way to SBux just to make sure they're ready to send one over at 6:30. Except they have no idea because nobody had told them that was the plan. I'm disappointed because the way my GSTL communicated it to me gave me the impression that she had already worked everything out with them and they had agreed to it. Then again when the LOD already knew the plan it further confirmed in my mind that SBux had been filled in and was on board.

She agreed to come over for a little, but I felt bad because then SBux got slammed and the closer still needed her half, so I sent the GS trained Sbux girl back over and I ended up watching GS. LOD came up around 8:30 and said she'd cover GS for me so I could watch the front. Except she doesn't know guest service, so I ended up back at GS since she doesn't know how to do anything at GS except the most basic returns. She came back over at 9:00PM to check in on my gameplan for the night. I asked if she could hold GS for me so I could go take my half as I hadn't taken a break since I came in at 4:00, and also reminded her that there was another HL TL in the store who used to be a GSTL at our store. She agreed, and I said I'd keep my walkie on and ear piece in just in case she needed to ask me something real quick. About 5 minutes into my break she walkies for me because a guest has come back because she doesn't like how her 130 holiday greeting cards came out and wants to return them, and asks if there is a problem with Kodak. I come back in to check and I recognize the order, and the former GSTL is also now at GS. I had to change the ribbon about half-way through her order, but I inspect them and the ink is even on all of her cards, there was just a discrepancy between the picture online and the actual product. No issue, we can just return them and try to figure out another solution. She tries to return all 130 by keying in the DPCI and changing the Qty. but it doesn't work, so while they have me trying to find/reprint the guest's order, they're also asking me how to return these pictures....for God's sake scan the bar codes on the folder!

I ended up working for 20 minutes of my 30 + skipped both of my 15s, and had to clock back in so that I had time to close the registers and GS since the LOD didn't know how to close GS and the former GSTL said they couldn't do it either.
 
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If I came in as an external to be GSA, I think I would’ve hated it, but I was a cashier and gstm and was really, really bored of cashiering/ sco, so GSA was an opportunity to do more and also pretty much only get service desk and gsa shifts. I did GSA duties before I was a GSA. As a reliable gstm, it was just sort of expected of me to help cashiers, watch the front for breaks, and figure out my own problems. Only thing I couldn’t do was money and supervisor numbers, so I figured might as well get that access.

I feel you with everything you’re saying though. Sometimes it’s all too much and I don’t feel like it’s worth it. I don’t mind the no 15s too much because as a gstm I tended to work through them and if I have coverage, most of my GSTLs force me (or try to) to take at least my first 15.

Also, pretty sure GSA is a way to have GSTL coverage without the TL pay, so you’re right with that. We got a new GSA when one left. Then two GSTLs left, so we got two new GSAs and after some time another GSTL. Then they just added me in a few months later.

I know I would absolutely hate this position coming in externally though. Knowing the other GSTLs/GSAs makes it easier since I can go to them about anything and I know how to approach them. Knowing the system and target policies in and out before helped as I could focus on just learning GSA duties (that I pretty much already knew). It’s a honestly a position that is hard to keep people in and most do not like.
 
julyblues said:
I ended up working for 20 minutes of my 30 + skipped both of my 15s, and had to clock back in so that I had time to close the registers and GS since the LOD didn't know how to close GS and the former GSTL said they couldn't do it either.
Click to expand...

I realize you were trying to be a team player by keeping your walkie on during your meal, but you are under absolutely no obligation to do so when you are not on the clock, even on the worst of nights. Every time we (any non-ETL) skip our 15s or skip our meal, we are not helping the payroll situation. It only makes leadership think more is getting done with fewer hours.

If the front is a shit show, let it be a shit show and let the LOD deal with it during your breaks and lunches. If they can’t handle it, then they need to have a conversation with the ETL-GE or STL for solutions on nights like this.
 
As far as I see, you've sized up the position accurately. The gals who like the position don't have career options, so the extra bit of "boss" power feeds a morsel of ego. I have been a corporate manager in my former life, and for sure, I wouldn't do the job.

I can say the job used to be more fun, but they over cut front end hours, and we have severe problems same as you described, too. Under this model, the gsa is truly screwed.

One gsa just takes blocks of time off for a host of reasons. Another looks shell-shocked when ever I remind her....I'm scheduled to be off now.

One good thing is that it'll be over soon. January DOES arrive, every year, and then we'll be bored silly.
 
Everything you said is right. The one thing I would keep focus on is that the position allows you to promote more so than a cashier. It's all about you taking the challenge and putting the extra in to stand above everyone else. There are many reasons why people get passed over for promotions. One main reason I can see as to why 9 of the 10 GSA's at your store didn't promote was because they didn't tell anyone they were interested. I had a GSA at my store that I knew would be a perfect fit for GSTL. They expressed their concerns and eventually had half a foot in half out. They weren't 100% positive they wanted to move up. As soon as my STL heard that they knew they weren't ready.

As for coachings... even though you cant officially document them you can manage your team and follow up with the GSTL's. That should give you an additional foot in the door when it comes to promotion.
 
wiredharpoon said:
Everything you said is right. The one thing I would keep focus on is that the position allows you to promote more so than a cashier. It's all about you taking the challenge and putting the extra in to stand above everyone else. There are many reasons why people get passed over for promotions. One main reason I can see as to why 9 of the 10 GSA's at your store didn't promote was because they didn't tell anyone they were interested. I had a GSA at my store that I knew would be a perfect fit for GSTL. They expressed their concerns and eventually had half a foot in half out. They weren't 100% positive they wanted to move up. As soon as my STL heard that they knew they weren't ready.

As for coachings... even though you cant officially document them you can manage your team and follow up with the GSTL's. That should give you an additional foot in the door when it comes to promotion.
Click to expand...
This. I was persistent with promoting, worked super hard, and some around me supported me as well (not all). I performed at a much higher level than my old GSTL and was basically ready to be a GSTL not more than a few months after becoming a GSA. Eventually I finally promoted and it was a great feeling. I am now in the talks to become a SRGSTL.

I was a cashier when I first began with Target with no retail or management experience.
 
julyblues said:
I ended up working for 20 minutes of my 30 + skipped both of my 15s, and had to clock back in so that I had time to close the registers and GS since the LOD didn't know how to close GS and the former GSTL said they couldn't do it either.
Click to expand...


I agree with what mathprofmatt said:
mathprofmatt said:
I realize you were trying to be a team player by keeping your walkie on during your meal, but you are under absolutely no obligation to do so when you are not on the clock, even on the worst of nights. Every time we (any non-ETL) skip our 15s or skip our meal, we are not helping the payroll situation. It only makes leadership think more is getting done with fewer hours.

If the front is a shit show, let it be a shit show and let the LOD deal with it during your breaks and lunches. If they can’t handle it, then they need to have a conversation with the ETL-GE or STL for solutions on nights like this.
Click to expand...


Also, here is some info from the Team Member Handbook:

Meal Periods and Rest Breaks.jpg

Leaders Condoning Working Off-the-Clock Violation.jpg
 
I’ve seen many GSAs passed over for promotion also because of their attitude. They assume that because they are already a GSA they deserve a TL position and they let that taint their attitude. No one is owed anything. Keep your head up, do your job, bring people along for the ride and you’ll be fine.
 
CoquiAzul said:
I’ve seen many GSAs passed over for promotion also because of their attitude
Click to expand...

True. Unfortunately, being overworked and underpaid takes it's toll. Most of those in my store doing GSA work are burned out or jaded. Having too many on the bench already means their wait to possibly promote will. be. very. long. Which kills them just a little bit more.
 
The GSA position is purely created for cost-effectiveness for Front End coverage.

In 2009, my last store switched from 5 GSTLs to 4 GSAs & 1 GSTL. The GSAs would report into the GSTL for all coachings/corrective actions or escalations. The GSAs would supplement their hours with CO/GS/cashier shifts.
 
starmaster1000 said:
Snark aside, I think GSA, aside from a cost-saving measure we all know to be true, was created to appeal to those who want supervisory experience on their résumé.

In my store and those around me, the average GSA age is 21 years of age.
Click to expand...
Yep, the main reason why I took the position was for the experience and it would look good on a resume plus I did most of the job already.

Kind of weird, but I fit the 20 year old average age, but my store’s GSA average age is 34 with me and if you take me out it goes up to 38 years old.
 
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buliSBI said:
The GSA position is purely created for cost-effectiveness for Front End coverage.

In 2009, my last store switched from 5 GSTLs to 4 GSAs & 1 GSTL. The GSAs would report into the GSTL for all coachings/corrective actions or escalations. The GSAs would supplement their hours with CO/GS/cashier shifts.
Click to expand...

This. In the pre-2008 market crash, all stores had at least 4 GSTLs. When Bob Ulrich retired and Gregg Steinhafel stepped in, GSTL was one of the first TL positions to be downsized. From here, ETL-GEs went away in ULV stores, followed by the infamous elimination of specialist positions. Of course not much of the workload really went away...Target just found a way to pay people less money to do it.
 
When I started, there was 1 GSTL and 4 CTLs. Then, it changed to 4 GSTLs, then back again, lol.
 
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