Target (No. 14 on Fair360, formerly DiversityInc 2019 Top 50 Companies for Diversity) is not taking any chances with the health of employees and guests with major changes to the way they operate as well as a significant investment of $300 million+ last week that will support both guests and employees as COVID-19 sweeps across the country.
According to a statement from Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell, Target will delay its investments from opening new small format stores, store remodeling and incorporating fresh grocery and adult beverages into our Order Pickup and Drive Up services until later, likely 2021. Cornell wants to make sure that employees have enough time to be properly trained on the new procedures required for adding groceries and alcohol into that system.
“As we look ahead, we want to keep minimizing disruptions so they can concentrate on that critical work. So we’re adjusting the timing of a few projects we had planned for 2020,” Cornell said in the statement.
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For in-store changes, this week Target implemented a new cleaning strategy full force:
- A team member will be stationed at store entrances to make sure carts are clean and available
- Adding signs at the front of stores and floor decals at the checklanes to maintain safe distances between guests
- Checklanes will be cleaned after each guest transaction and employees will guide guests in line while that happens
- Stores will rotate the use of checklanes to allow those not in use to be deep cleaned regularly
- Not accepting in-store product returns and exchanges for the next three weeks but Target will still honor the returns and exchanges three weeks past the holding period
- Employees will not touch guests’ reusable bags and guests will bag their own items at checkout
- Paper and plastic bags will still be available and Target will waive any local fees during this time
Target also has a coronavirus information hub.
“We’re also expanding our dedicated shopping hours for our most vulnerable guests, including the elderly and those with underlying health concerns,” Cornell said. “Starting next week, we’ll reserve the first hour our stores are open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to accommodate those shoppers. Our partners at CVS will have their pharmacy locations open during that time as well.”
