Target employee starts online petition protesting Target's BF hours

[Marionnette]

I understand where this guy is coming from. I worked in a hospital for years. Holidays, weekends, crazy night shifts. But when you enter the medical professions, you expect this. How many people who took jobs in retail actually expected to be going to work on Thanksgiving Day?

I know that I will not be shopping on Black Friday. I think that it is insane to be opening the stores at 9 pm on Thanksgiving or even at midnight! I'll be exhausted from the cooking and clean up. The last thing that I need to add on top of that is to stand in the cold outside for a couple hours at Target or Best Buy.

FWIW, I just picked up one of my big Christmas items last night. Best Buy has pre-Black Friday specials for their Premier Reward Zone members. I got a 47" flatscreen with a 3D Blu ray and 4 3D glasses for under $800. And I didn't have to stand in the cold to get it.

 

[msmayor]

Well the Target employee who started that petition probably won't need to worry about working those hours now. It would not surprise me at all if Target has a policy that prohibits employees from posting publicly on the internet against the company.

He's probably set himself up for an immediate dismissal. Home for the holidays now.....

 

[beansmom]

i doubt Target would have the nerve to fire him. It would be a bad PR move.

the only way to change these things...is to just not participate. As I stated before, I won't be out there for several reasons...and a holiday with my family is one of them.

 

[LauraR]

I understand where this guy is coming from. I worked in a hospital for years. Holidays, weekends, crazy night shifts. But when you enter the medical professions, you expect this. How many people who took jobs in retail actually expected to be going to work on Thanksgiving Day?

I know that I will not be shopping on Black Friday. I think that it is insane to be opening the stores at 9 pm on Thanksgiving or even at midnight! I'll be exhausted from the cooking and clean up. The last thing that I need to add on top of that is to stand in the cold outside for a couple hours at Target or Best Buy.

FWIW, I just picked up one of my big Christmas items last night. Best Buy has pre-Black Friday specials for their Premier Reward Zone members. I got a 47" flatscreen with a 3D Blu ray and 4 3D glasses for under $800. And I didn't have to stand in the cold to get it.

ITA with all your points. And I'm with you on getting good deals in a less demanding way (online shopping works for me!)

I also don't think this guy should be punished for voicing an opinion.

 

[DMGeurts]

I just want to say that I don't think this guy posted the whole story.

I don't have a problem working BF - I have always enjoyed it and it's a lot of fun.

However... I am scheduled to work 2am until 10:30am on THANKSGIVING DAY... We are not open on Thanksgiving day. Do you know why I am working???? I have to stock shelves!

On a "normal week" or even a "holiday week"... We get trucks delivered on Mon, Wed, Fri... During TG week, this year, we are getting trucks on Sat, Wed, Sat. Instead of having us come into the store on Wed to work the truck on Wed... Target is letting the truck sit for an entire day, and making us come in on the holiday to stock the shelves.

That's what I (and my peers) have a problem with.

This is not a hospital/nursing home or another life saving occupation. This is retail... And yes, I know that I work retail and this is the busiest season of the year... But there is NO OTHER REASON that we have to work, other than the almighty dollar.

This whole situation could have been avoided company wide, if they would have scheduled us on Wednesday to work a truck that is already there, rather than having us come in on the actual holiday.

There is also the issue of how Target handled the situation, at a store level and a corporate level. They totally avoided telling us about this until it leaked in the news. Most of us had already made our plans. They also blocked out the entire holiday season for time off requests, they won't even consider any requests, nor will they listen to us about they way this situation has been wrongly handled.

We all have families, and pretty much the entire Target work force had to forfeit their time with families to do some sort of unecessary task that could have been done earlier.

You might say that "we work retail, we should expect this"... And we do, we expect to be busy, we expect to have extra hours... But the way Target Corp. has treated us through out this entire situation is unfair and very rude. I have lost a lot of respect for the company I used to enjoy working for.

So, you can bash me all you want, and I am sure you will. But let's remember - we are not at Target to save your life - we are there so you can spend your $$. And now we can't spend time with our families on a national holiday, because we have to work. This was not an option for us, this is mandatory. And I am sorry... I do not make the wages of a Dr. or a Nurse, who expects to work on some of these days (and receives notice waaay in advance)... I make very little $$, and sacrafice a lot of time, long hours and very little respect from anyone I come in contact with... So, I will go to work on Thanksgiving day, Black Friday and every other day of the holiday season, I will smile and be happy, because (believe it or not) I do enjoy most aspects of my job... But just know that we would prefer to spend the holidays with our families.

D~ <--- Who will probably lose her job for writing this post.

 

[scrapquitler]

I agree that BF has gotten way out of control. I just don't understand why these stores need to open at ridiculous hours. One store I'm sure started it and then all the other stores had to follow suit to compete. Just go back to opening at normal hours on Friday morning and let people enjoy their Thanksgiving. I understand people that have essential jobs, (fire, police, military, medical) have to work and of course they understand that being in the field they are in...but working retail is NOT essential.

Disney isn't essential either, but I can imagine the uproar that would happen on the boards if Disney decided "We are going to close on Thanksgiving and Christmas so that our employees don't have to work"

Anybody complaining that the retail workers (who KNOW they are going to have to work on holidays) should get the day off to spend with their family should also want to give the same consideration for the Disney Cast Members.

Yeah...crickets. Nobody's going to advocate for that, are they?

Again I'll say it: If the consumers didn't want to shop on the holiday or at midnight or 3AM, the stores wouldn't be open. If the customers keep showing up, then the stores will be open.

My brother and I used to work at 7Eleven (late 80s/early 90s). It was right across the street from our house, and the ONLY day it was closed was on Christmas. They'd close at like 8PM Christmas eve and open at like 5AM on Dec 26th. One year, my brother said to the owner, I have an idea - every year my Mom forgets something she needs for Christmas dinnner, or she needs batteries or whatever. I'm sure she's not the only one. It would be really convenient if something was open, and nothing is. I bet that if you open, you'll make more money than you can imagine. So the owner agreed to open on Christmas Day with my brother working. They still closed on Christmas Eve, but at 7am on Christmas Day they opened, and my brother worked 12 hours, then the owner came in and worked the rest of the day. My brother didn't care because we mostly celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve anyway. Well, let me just tell you, that was THE busiest day EVER for the store. They ran out of milk, batteries, film, bread and a bunch of other stuff because so many people came in to get things they needed.

The bottom line is that this guy at Target is not wanting to work the holiday, but for every employee that does NOT want to work the holiday, there ARE others who ARE willing to work the holiday, either for the extra pay, to help their fellow workers, to avoid family drama, because they don't celebrate the holiday, because they have no family, or whatever. Sure, some employees have to work when they don't want to, but don't we ALL have days where we have to work despite not wanting to? When you take a retail job you KNOW that weekends and holidays are part of the deal. If you are not willing to do them, you take another job.

 

[luvmy3]

ITA with all your points. And I'm with you on getting good deals in a less demanding way (online shopping works for me!)

I also don't think this guy should be punished for voicing an opinion.

I think he did more than voice an opinion by starting that petition. Its one thing to discuss with your boss your issues with your job, its another to make a public spectacle of it. I'm not saying he should be punished, but if he has issues with what is required for his retail position during the holidays, he needs to find a new line of work that doesn't involve retail.

 

[TriniandBre]

I've always wanted to shop on BF. When I worked in retail I would have been more than happy to work on that day especially if I was getting paid extra to do it. I worked on New Year's Eve one year. I don't understand what the problem is. It is a job, you are expected to work odd hours when it comes to retail. What about the people who work in hospitals that have to work odd hours and miss family functions? I say suck it up because it's just one day a year!!!! You can still enjoy family time and have enough time to rest or sleep before work. Most people eat "dinner" early anyways.

 

[michelle06]

No I don't want to, but we do all of the time. I have a family full of police, fire and military employees. It's their job and it's what they signed up for. I do agree that the 10pm times are crazy and as a shopper I am not shopping at those stores. I don't want to line up at 7pm because a store decided to open at 9pm. I will be in line for the store that opens at midnight though.

I am not talking about those jobs that are very necessary like emergency crew. I specifically said giving up time with family so you can work a job where people give in to consumerism. I greatly appreciate that there are those who serve my community as policemen, firemen, doctors, etc. And I know that they must work holidays. However, it seems wrong that someone has to give up family time for a job that requires working on Thanksgiving so that others can shop for NONESSENTIAL stuff. Our society is getting to a point where we don't value what's important. It's not about being grateful to have a job, it's about us as a society putting value in what's best for families. If our families fall apart, costs of living go up even more (paying for 2 homes for the children, counseling, depression meds, etc), we have to work more and the cycle perpetuates.

 

[Lewisc]

When people took the job at Target working on Thanksgiving was not part of the deal.

PP indicated Target is having employees stock shelves on Thanksgiving.

The bottom line is that this guy at Target is not wanting to work the holiday, but for every employee that does NOT want to work the holiday, there ARE others who ARE willing to work the holiday, either for the extra pay, to help their fellow workers, to avoid family drama, because they don't celebrate the holiday, because they have no family, or whatever. Sure, some employees have to work when they don't want to, but don't we ALL have days where we have to work despite not wanting to? When you take a retail job you KNOW that weekends and holidays are part of the deal. If you are not willing to do them, you take another job.

 

[mhsjax]

Sorry, but if you have a job in this economy and your employer asks you to work 'different' hours 1 or 2 days a year, I don't see a problem. The customers are willing to get up.

Sorry, but difference in being a customer and a worker in retail. Been there, done that on both. I am more than willing to get up early and find a deal and get into the fun, crazy madness. I am not willing to be on the other end to deal with idiot customers.

I do get so tired of"if you have a job" That is what happened in cotton mills before unions came in, people were dropping dead, but hey, they had a job. Now, I am not comparing Target to a cotton mill, but really, where does it stop. There is no need for these store to open up on Thanksgiving. OUr biggest grocery store here refuses to be open, and they are on top all the time. YOu don't have to be a jerk to get ahead.

 

[mhsjax]

No I don't want to, but we do all of the time. I have a family full of police, fire and military employees. It's their job and it's what they signed up for. I do agree that the 10pm times are crazy and as a shopper I am not shopping at those stores. I don't want to line up at 7pm because a store decided to open at 9pm. I will be in line for the store that opens at midnight though.



They are better compensated? Not hardly. Maybe once you move up within the company, but those aren't usually the public safety workers that work the holidays. Unless retail has changed since I've worked in it, Thanksgiving to New Years is the only time it's mandatory you are available. All other holidays you are allowed to take time off. You are compensated to what you agreed to when you took the position, knowing you would be expected to work some crazy hours during that 6 week period. I do see your point, and I'm not trying to pick on you. I just do not agree that I need to feel sorry for a retail employee because they have to work long and strange hours for 6 weeks of the year. Many jobs have this happen and I have yet to see such an outcry for them. How about accountants? Who is going to stick up for them working 18 plus hours a day from Feb. to April? Why don't they get to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and enjoy the start of spring with the rest of us? What I'm trying to say is this is not exclusive to retail workers. This spans across many many jobs and choices people make for their types of employment.

People need to realize this just isn't an issue with the employers, it's an issue with your state's department of labor. Take it up with them. They are the ones with rules in place that allow an employer to schedule an employee pretty much anytime they feel like it, without any breaks if they so chose, and the employee can either work it or quit. Those are state laws, not just exclusive to retail, they pertain to any non union job. Not all states but many of them have no laws in place to protect an employee from working crazy hours, what breaks they get and what days you have off. I live in a right to work state and you can be fired for any reason at any time. The employers don't even have to grant you a break on an 8 hour shift if they chose not to. OSHA has regulations, but they are not actual laws.

Sorry but you can't compare Target and Walmart, cheap crap and over the top insane rude customers with Police, military, Drs' nurses, or in my DH case, Air traffic controllers. Sorry but you don't have to get you cheap grubby crap on thanksgiving night, you can wait until the next day to act like vultures, and idiots. Not you, but YOU in general. This is nothing more than greed, and people just being too darn pushy and cheap to wait a few extra hours. YOu can' say that with essential personal needed for emergency situations.

 

[kamik86]

My husband is working black friday at Target. His store is opening at 1:00, our state charges fines for making workers come in on Thanksgiving so they can't open at midnight (because the employees have to be there before the store opens and its not worth the fine for the extra hour).

He doesn't care about the 12:30 start time, but is working 12:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Why because the store hasn't been able to hire enough seasonal help so to handle the longer hours everyone is working 12 hour shifts in that craziness. Oh and my husband works electronics. Last year he was forcefully pushed into the big glass game cases by crazy people that are violent.

I don't know why this guy is protesting the hours. I wish they would all start protesting the fact that they are getting injured. Many years employees are seriously injured by customers on black friday. customers that are still allowed to buy the things they assaulted an employee over. Honestly if my husband gets hurt I seriously hope he walks out of the store right then (I just hope he is physically able to do so).

I don't care about the stores hours but I do care that they don't do enough to ensure the safety of the employees. Starting with a policy to press chargers on anyone seen pushing anyone for any reason. Oh and to not sell them anything either.

 

[SaraJayne]

BF has gotten completely out of hand, IMO. It started simply as a convenient time to start your Christmas shopping...now it has ballooned into a chaotic nightmare that is taking over Thanksgiving. It is not a necessary public service like healthcare or police. It's just greed in its basest form.

I completely agree with you.

 

[TriniandBre]

My husband is working black friday at Target. His store is opening at 1:00, our state charges fines for making workers come in on Thanksgiving so they can't open at midnight (because the employees have to be there before the store opens and its not worth the fine for the extra hour).

He doesn't care about the 12:30 start time, but is working 12:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Why because the store hasn't been able to hire enough seasonal help so to handle the longer hours everyone is working 12 hour shifts in that craziness. Oh and my husband works electronics. Last year he was forcefully pushed into the big glass game cases by crazy people that are violent.

I don't know why this guy is protesting the hours. I wish they would all start protesting the fact that they are getting injured. Many years employees are seriously injured by customers on black friday. customers that are still allowed to buy the things they assaulted an employee over. Honestly if my husband gets hurt I seriously hope he walks out of the store right then (I just hope he is physically able to do so).

I don't care about the stores hours but I do care that they don't do enough to ensure the safety of the employees. Starting with a policy to press chargers on anyone seen pushing anyone for any reason. Oh and to not sell them anything either.

I like that idea I think that is one of the reasons I still haven't went out and shopped on BF. It's too dangerous.

 

[twinboysmom]

Well, count me in the group that sees this as nothing but a whine. I believe it was his line that all Americans deserve to spend thanksgiving with their families. We all know this isn't realistic. We haven't spent a thanksgiving with our families in many years and missed a ton of Christmases and New Years because we are nurses. When I was 16 and worked for a grocery store we were open thanksgiving day and I was there working. For some jobs it comes with the territory and yes, in retail, this is the way it is. if you don't like it, go find another job. Yes, it's not essential that stores operate in this manner but it's not essential that Disney be open or your local restaurants either. These are big money making days for businesses. I do agree with the previous poster that these retail companies do need to provide for the safety of their workers. I can't believe all of the grown folks out there fighting to save a couple of bucks on some things. Just ridiculous. I stay home and use the Internet.

 

[SaraJayne]

Disney isn't essential either, but I can imagine the uproar that would happen on the boards if Disney decided "We are going to close on Thanksgiving and Christmas so that our employees don't have to work"

Anybody complaining that the retail workers (who KNOW they are going to have to work on holidays) should get the day off to spend with their family should also want to give the same consideration for the Disney Cast Members.

Yeah...crickets. Nobody's going to advocate for that, are they?

Again I'll say it: If the consumers didn't want to shop on the holiday or at midnight or 3AM, the stores wouldn't be open. If the customers keep showing up, then the stores will be open.

My brother and I used to work at 7Eleven (late 80s/early 90s). It was right across the street from our house, and the ONLY day it was closed was on Christmas. They'd close at like 8PM Christmas eve and open at like 5AM on Dec 26th. One year, my brother said to the owner, I have an idea - every year my Mom forgets something she needs for Christmas dinnner, or she needs batteries or whatever. I'm sure she's not the only one. It would be really convenient if something was open, and nothing is. I bet that if you open, you'll make more money than you can imagine. So the owner agreed to open on Christmas Day with my brother working. They still closed on Christmas Eve, but at 7am on Christmas Day they opened, and my brother worked 12 hours, then the owner came in and worked the rest of the day. My brother didn't care because we mostly celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve anyway. Well, let me just tell you, that was THE busiest day EVER for the store. They ran out of milk, batteries, film, bread and a bunch of other stuff because so many people came in to get things they needed.

The bottom line is that this guy at Target is not wanting to work the holiday, but for every employee that does NOT want to work the holiday, there ARE others who ARE willing to work the holiday, either for the extra pay, to help their fellow workers, to avoid family drama, because they don't celebrate the holiday, because they have no family, or whatever. Sure, some employees have to work when they don't want to, but don't we ALL have days where we have to work despite not wanting to? When you take a retail job you KNOW that weekends and holidays are part of the deal. If you are not willing to do them, you take another job.

I would have absolutely NO problem with Disney being closed on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day so CM's can spend the holiday with their families...not thousands of strangers.

I always feel so bad for the NFL teams that play on holidays (Packers play Thanksgiving AND Christmas this year). They can't be with their families and what about all the workers that are missing out on family time?

We need to get away from greed and back to family.

 

[QVCshopper]

I would have absolutely NO problem with Disney being closed on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day so CM's can spend the holiday with their families...not thousands of strangers.

I always feel so bad for the NFL teams that play on holidays (Packers play Thanksgiving AND Christmas this year). They can't be with their families and what about all the workers that are missing out on family time?

We need to get away from greed and back to family.

You feel bad for NFL players? Please, talk about greed! I refuse to contribute to that whole NFL franchise, or any sport for that matter. Why do these people deserve millions and millions of dollars because they can throw a ball? Because companies pay them, so we can watch them endorse products, and spend more money!

 

[crisi]

Its gotten past ridiculous.

I'm not going, but they won't miss me. I've been boycotting Black Friday since I stopped working retail 25 years ago - when it was a much smaller deal.

 

[kamik86]

I would have absolutely NO problem with Disney being closed on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day so CM's can spend the holiday with their families...not thousands of strangers.

I always feel so bad for the NFL teams that play on holidays (Packers play Thanksgiving AND Christmas this year). They can't be with their families and what about all the workers that are missing out on family time?

We need to get away from greed and back to family.

Although I agree with CMs and sports there will always be some people that have to work. I don't think that is a huge problem. My family has rescheduled holidays a few times when we all couldn't be there for the real one.

Also some businesses its not really greed. Their is a DD near my sister that a few people got really loud and rude in (its attached to a gas station) about them being open on Christmas. However both employees that were working that day do not celebrate Christmas. It was the franchise owner and a friend that would work because alot of people would come in from traveling stop at the gas station and get coffee so he could make good money that day, and it wasn't a holiday to them because they were of a different religion. They didn't force anyone to work it.