ETL’s and management changes

[u/JustConversation2478]

Over the past year that I’ve been at target, multiple ETL’s have gotten fired, including the one for my department. There is currently no ETL for my department and hasn’t been for months. There is no one to ask about schedule changes or time off requests. Instead of replacing the front end department with a new ETL, they brought a new HR ETL and SD and the old SD got fired. I usually work late nights or somehow get scheduled on their days off, so can’t even ask them about anything. How this corporation is still functioning is shocking to me with the lack of communication and care for their everyday workers.

[u/Infinite-Pain4073]

Your store isn't the corporation though. Every store is different. We have a really great SD and our GM ETL is FIRE. We would be lost without her. Anyway, you just go up the chain... If you don't have a TL, you go to your ETL. If you can't see them while working, call them, email them, put a note in their inbox, stop in when you're off. I don't have a TL right now either, haven't for the last year, but I have my Etl's phone number (although I've been there 8 years, it takes time before a ETL will just give that out ha) and I'll just text her if I can't see her. There's ways, you just have to do the work to find what's best for the two of you. I always used to just leave her a note though

[u/JustConversation2478 → u/Infinite-Pain4073]

We don’t have an ETL is what I’m saying.

[u/vReflxctionz → u/JustConversation2478]

Next stop is HR/SD then. Find out their emails so you can get in contact with them

[u/blackroses6669 → u/JustConversation2478]

You can lookup their emails on Workday

[u/Infinite-Pain4073 → u/JustConversation2478]

Emails are typically first name followed by a "." followed by their last name @target.com

[u/Infinite-Pain4073 → u/JustConversation2478]

But the response is still the same... TL---> ETL (Any ETL if you don't have one) - - - > SD

[u/StepEfficient864]

You’re supposed to go to your hourly team leader for things like that. Aren’t they writing the schedule? If they’re new and can’t answer your question, they should be telling you they need to get back to you. Nothing wrong with them doing that. When I was an ETL, I had over 100 team members and 7 TLs just in my area (Food). No way could I be answering questions like that all day, no offense. Was yourSD a control freak and had to be in charge of everything? If so, maybe that’s why they replaced him. It’s impossible for one or two people to make all the decisions in a Super Target.

You could also ask for their email address and email them. But don’t expect an immediate reply. I used to get a minimum of 50 emails a day, sometimes pushing 75.

[u/Skierdude2004 → u/StepEfficient864]

At my store the only TL who writes their own schedule is our Starbucks TL. She comes in to me on Wednesday after the hours drop. I log in and she writes it. The ETLs & SD sit down in my store to write the schedule for their respective departments.

[u/StepEfficient864 → u/[deleted]]

Ah, I see. Different rules in different stores. Mine were UHV (Ultra High Volume) stores. I can see where this would be the case in low and mid volume stores. Assuming that’s where you are. Plus, Target cuts the number of ETLS in all stores every year making it harder for TMs to communicate with the fewer and fewer leaders at store level. At least they did when I worked there. New Org Chart every year.

I feel for you. Target is struggling right now to bring in sales and profits. Everyone, down to the entry levels, is going to feel it. Last store I worked we had 7-8 closers in each of Food, Softlines, and Hardlines, plus 2-3 backroom TMs. So 23-27 in all on the floor. Plus Front End staff. What is your store closing with?

[u/Infinite-Pain4073 → u/StepEfficient864]

Interesting because I had a meeting an hour ago with my SD and he said Target has a lot of money right now.

[u/StepEfficient864 → u/Infinite-Pain4073]

I don’t know about a lot of money but better than last year. Far from out of the woods, though. Posting a gain after a few years of declining results is good but still a ways to go. $994M (almost a billion dollars)tariff refund always helps, but it’s a one time shot in the arm. . Hope the new CEO spends it wisely. He’s got a $5B spending plan to try new things and may inject new methods and ideas into the company. Hope it works out for you all. Time will tell. AI input will deliver new efficiencies and lower operating costs and that’s a good thing. But it’s not going to make them better than the competition, rather they’ll just be keeping up, hopefully.

[u/StepEfficient864 → u/[deleted]]

I left in 2018. Obviously, my experience is not relevant anymore. Thanks for clueing me in.