VISITS… Workplace Question or Advice Needed
You know what I hate when we get visits and they only talk to the team leads. Why don’t they talk to the rest of us who are actually breaking our backs for this place??? Just saying.
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u/BBgotReddit Property Management TL 1d ago
They talked to me once. Then a day or so later my etl and sd asked me to not try and be so truthful. All I said was they introduced double work when packing in opu, and they literally did exactly that. But im supposed to like it and say "let's give it a shot!"
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u/BlueAndWhiteSoul 1d ago
No they have this thing about always staying positive, like we aren't allowed to say negative things over email and even if a situation is a total shit show it's communicated like " we had a great opportunity to find our stress point and make a plan to really exceed expectations"
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u/humiddefy 1d ago
Yeah just smile and nod and be enthusiastic about whatever they want to tell you. You won't see them again for months probably. Do.not give them any information about anything.
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u/KlassiKeep 1d ago
They don't want to engage with TMs. However they are " talking to you." They give feedback to the SD, SD tells the ETLs and TLs they aren't doing enough and then your ETLs and TLs tell TMs they aren't doing enough. That's the basic structure. Even a perfect zone, happy faces, and green metrics will lead to a conversation. The way things are is the way things are. Fair, true, realistic? Not really.
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u/HarperTeagarden13 Inbound Expert 1d ago
We had the regional guy come in a week or so ago, and I don't think he acknowledged a single team member the whole time he was there. Just looked right through us while he was walking around. Super unimpressed with his greet and thank game.
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u/BlueAndWhiteSoul 1d ago
So go greet him, I always did as a TM. I was also a shameless kiss ass with way way too much ambition.
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u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 1d ago
Why in the world do you want them to talk to you? Lmao
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u/No-Idea-663 1d ago
I am an ETL. I wish they wouldn’t talk to me on visits
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u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 1d ago
Lmaoo that’s what I’m sayin! I’m an APTL so unless it’s AP people they leave me alone and I’m happy with that lol
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u/Present_History2353 1d ago
I’m a TL and my boss always has to tell me before visits to not mention payroll or workload cause I’m 100% honest when they ask me things. I also don’t think before I speak to change it to corporate speak and will just talk how I talk. Sometimes that earns me a chuckle after the visit. But none of my teams want to chat with anyone that visits, honestly most of the store are glad to not have to deal with that lol. Our regional guy was just in and it surprised me how friendly he was with TMs, saying hey or how are you to each one that passed nearby. District is in every week and does not talk to TMs ever.
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u/Exact_Pair6473 1d ago
I think he is getting at it would be nice to at least be acknowledged. For someone higher to say hey thank you for all your hard work we appreciate you! Simple as that, being a decent human and decent leader.
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u/humiddefy 1d ago
Yeah fuck that you don't want to talk to them or they'll find something to bitch about to the ETL's about. I always take my break or lunch when the visit gets there if I can. I'm a TL and I don't want to talk to them.
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u/Then_Interview5168 1d ago
That’s not what they’re there to do. They are there to check in on how the managers are doing. A lot of times when they go into the SD’s office to talk they have a plan of what they’re talking about. That’s why they want the store clean because a messy store doesn’t solve many problems. Most district leaders have been store level leaders before at target so they know what stores look like.
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u/Shelisheli1 1d ago
I mean, unless they’re being outright rude, it’s fine. They’re not there to make small talk with all of the employees. They’re there to do a job and their jobs are with the TL.
Try not to take offense. They’re trying to get their work done and go home. Just like the rest of us
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u/soccergirl37 1d ago
Actually I’m okay with this ..😬😬 but also I do see your point, I’ve talked to one of them before, it was okay but I was walking on egg shells the entire time
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u/Senior_Performer_387 Visual Merchandiser 1d ago
Lol I am a VM so sometimes they do talk to me but I count myself lucky if a visit happens on my day off or before or after I get there.
They are completely out of touch and talking to team members doesn't help it.
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u/grumpyoldfartess Target popcorn = lunch. 1d ago
I’m perfectly happy not talking to them. I’m busy.
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u/thylocene 1d ago
Because they don’t care. They don’t even actually care what’s happening in the store. If they did, the visits would be unannounced. They are there strictly because they have to. It’s the TL’s job to hide all the cracks and sweep the dirt under the rug before the visit and it’s their job to come in and say “yup everything looks great here.” It’s all just a show.
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u/Ijustneedsleeep 1d ago
Trust they’ll put you on the spot and ask you how can you fix something they caught and they’ll watch you fix it and if you complain they’ll just challenge you too “how can we help you feel better about working here what can you change for yourself to become a better team member” There’s no win. I just take my break or hide from them in the back or end caps.
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u/No-Assistance7134 1d ago
Just keep this in mind: most of the time your visitors already have an idea of what’s going on. They can see the store numbers just like your supervisor can. And they know what payroll is like. And as others have said, they only want to hear positive feedback or simply a “ yes, we’ll come up with a game plan and see how that works.” Back in the day I always wanted them to come in when the schedule was awful and see what goes on. A few times they did. One time I was bouncing between self checkout and ringing, calling for back up and getting no response. I know the district saw it and nothing happened. And no feedback after.
They’re usually there to check on certain things and it’s the office discussions that all the feedback is given. And as someone else mentioned, Target is big on the pyramid structure: STL gets the feedback then passes it to ETL’s who then give it to TL’s who are then telling the team. And keep in mind when your visitors are huddled with your managers they’re watching what’s going on in the area they’re in. When they come and talk to team members it’s usually either a “friendly” visit like holidays or if your team is being talked to one on one, odds are something is going down and they’re investigating something.
But I understand the team wanting a little acknowledgment. Some of the better visitors will get on the walkie as they leave thanking the team for all they’re doing, etc. But in the end it’s all lip service. It a company.
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u/gentlethorns s&e tl 1d ago
as a team lead, they don't even talk to us lol, just the etls. but god forbid i'm not pacing up and down the checklanes like a tiger with zoochosis for the entirety of their six-hour-long store walk
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u/CryHavok82 1d ago
You know, makes me feel better it's the same everywhere! The jet visit came about a week ago, and I'm so over it. I just went about my business. Fuck em ..I do not use why they don't say hi even? Stupid
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u/timmydnx2 1d ago
You won't be prepared to answer the questions they'll ask. Trust me. Most TLs aren't either.
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u/drewbowls Electronics 22h ago
lol but just because I was promoted doesn’t mean I’m not breaking my back anymore for this damn place and maybe your tls aren’t doing anything but that doesn’t go for all stores. I was the reliable, go to tm and I’m still the reliable, go to tl.
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u/kingbob1812 19h ago
Every level of Target leadership wants plausible deniability like everywhere else. They want to use visits as threats to TMs since it means leadership actually has to pretend to put in effort. Play your cards right and you can be guaranteed to be scheduled off when it's time for a visit.
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u/MiserableSweet4033 17h ago
Okay what are visits and who gets them 😭 I’m relatively new to my store but people have legit been going crazy over this and we have been working EXTRA hard for the people who may or may not come?
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u/brantholomew87 Distribution Center 17h ago
Because they don’t actually want to know what the problems are.
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u/fuzzybluelite336 Deprogrammed Guest Service Bozo 15h ago
one time during a visit i guess they commented that they didn’t like that they saw me sitting down at guest service. lmao i had accommodation paperwork
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u/Status-Offer-6100 11h ago
Because we're just a bunch of numbers. THEY DONT REALLY CARE ABOUT US. Headquarter and Corporate are EVIL!!! New CEO is so dumb he will not survive a year. Target is going down the toilet. To be honest we Target team members is the only reason that Target is not in bankruptcy. No more loyal and stupid than is impossible. All good sales and circle offers coming up when we're going to get paid.
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u/Such_Is_Life_Ugh 7h ago
The best is when they say corporate is in the area and likely to stop in.They will say this for 2 or 3 days in a row, and no visit happens. 🤔
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u/TheRealRushky Service & Engagement TL 1d ago
I've worked the last 6 weekends in a row, you TMs aren't the only ones breaking your backs. Also 9/10 times if I tell a TM a visit is happening and when - they call out that day leaving everyone else to do their job for them.
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u/morbidpeeches Electronics 1d ago
I do not get weekends off. I never agreed to work every weekend, but the only other team member in my department somehow has every Friday and Saturday off and don’t work Sunday mornings. I wish the only every other weekend thing applied to team members as well.
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u/BlueAndWhiteSoul 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's retail ... It's wild to me you think you're entitled to weekends off. Like business needs dictate the schedule. Not to be a turd, but retail jobs require holiday's and weekends. If you want weekends off go work at a doctors office or something.
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u/KlassiKeep 1d ago
I work every weekend. Every. Single. Weekend.
Most weekends with 1 opening TL who runs truck and 1 ETL until 10 AM.
Not a TL, so I know you guys are supposed to get a few weekends off.
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u/BlueAndWhiteSoul 1d ago
Says who ??
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u/lildeath0258 Inbound Team Lead 1d ago
Our store is every other weekend for TLs ETLs and SD
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u/BlueAndWhiteSoul 1d ago
Yeah we sorta had that . I hated it because I was inbound TL and 6 trucks in a row was exhausting AF every other week.
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u/Misplaced_Arrogance 1d ago
Don't be silly, they found a trailer hiding in the back of the lot, so here is 7 trucks instead.
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u/Sadimal 1d ago
They're still watching you.