Wednesday, March 4, 2020

A leaked Target email urges store managers to carry on business as usual while coronavirus fears create a 'scary, stressful' time for employees

 Business Insider  -  SHOSHY CIMENT  -  Mar 4th 2020 

Target sent an email to store leaders across the US on Tuesday (3/3/20) morning instructing them not to change anything about how stores function, despite mounting fears resulting from the spread of the coronavirus.

"At this point, we're asking that teams continue to operate business-as-usual," the email reads. "Know that we have teams in place managing any potential impact to our business."

Business Insider spoke to seven current Target employees across stores in New York, North Carolina, California, Washington, Minnesota, and Virginia, all but one of whom said they had not received any information from management regarding the coronavirus issue. 

"It's honestly a scary, stressful time right now," said a Target employee in Seattle, Washington, which is currently weathering a coronavirus outbreak. 

"At Target, we've been prioritizing our team, starting by ensuring that all of our China-based team members have been able to work from home," Target CEO Brian Cornell said during Target's 2020 financial community meeting on Tuesday. "More broadly, we spent considerable time focused on the best way to support our team members all around the world to make sure they stay healthy and safe."

As retailers across the globe warn about impact from the coronavirus outbreak, Target is telling its managers to carry on "business-as-usual" in stores. 

The company confirmed that an internal email sent out to team leaders across the US on Tuesday morning instructed them not to change anything about stores' functioning or communicate anything differently to employees, despite mounting fears about the coronavirus' spread. 

The email, which was viewed by Business Insider, outlined best practices for healthy hygiene habits and acknowledged dwindling inventory in certain categories like cleaning and grocery. 

"At this point, we're asking that teams continue to operate business-as-usual," the email reads. "Know that we have teams in place managing any potential impact to our business. If there are any changes to business practices, we will communicate as needed to impacted teams."

Employees feel like they are in the dark

The directive not to communicate plans to deal with the virus has made some employees feel like they aren't being equipped to fully handle it.

"We actually haven't had ANY kind of communication from management about ANYTHING related to this issue," a current Target employee, who is not in a managerial role, in a Seattle-area store told Business Insider in an email. "Everyone is just focused on selling and stocking."

This employee is one of seven current Target employees across stores in New York, North Carolina, California, Washington, Minnesota, and Virginia, who spoke to Business Insider about conditions in Target stores amid the coronavirus outbreak. All but one of these store employees, most of whom were granted either full or partial anonymity in order to speak frankly about the situation, but whose identities were confirmed by Business Insider, said they had not heard any information from management regarding protocol or contingency plans related to the coronavirus issue.

The novel coronavirus is affecting many major retailers across the globe. With more than 1,800 stores in the US, Target has become a major destination for worried shoppers to stock up on essentials in the event of an epidemic.

Six Target employees mentioned that hand sanitizer was either fully or almost sold out at their stores. Other staples like toilet paper, face masks, and cold medicine were also reported to be selling out fast.

An employee in a San Diego Target store said that working during the outbreak has been hectic. 

"I've had a guest come in with a giant bottle of Lysol he brought from home and he would spray everything before touching it," the employee said. "I do feel like it's a hazard working here, because I always see kids running around sneezing on everything without covering their mouths."

During Target's 2020 financial community meeting and fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 earnings call on Tuesday, CFO Michael Fiddelke said that the company has not seen a large impact on the business from the coronavirus, adding that any adjustments made for Target's future outlook have been slight.

In response to Business Insider's request for comment, Target referred to CEO Brian Cornell's comments from the earnings call.

"Like all of you, we're monitoring this situation hour by hour as conditions evolve," Cornell said in the call. "At Target, we've been prioritizing our team, starting by ensuring that all of our China-based team members have been able to work from home. More broadly, we spent considerable time focused on the best way to support our team members all around the world to make sure they stay healthy and safe."

Paid sick leave is a luxury

Additionally, some Target employees are not offered paid sick leave. Adam Ryan, the liaison for the employee activist group Target Workers Unite and a current employee at a store in Christiansburg, Virginia, said that he feels too worried to take an unpaid sick day if it would have to come to that.

"Even missing one day has a huge impact," Ryan said, regarding how he does not get paid time off or paid sick time. 

Patrick, a four-year employee of a North Carolina Target store who asked that Business Insider not include his last name, said his store also does not offer paid sick leave, though he said his workplace is not at the point of panic.

For the Seattle-area employee, being located in a coronavirus outbreak zone is causing him to become nervous about going to work.

"It's scary being around so many people, especially people with small children, who quite often come in coughing and sneezing, and they touch everything," he said. "And when there's an illness in the store it usually goes through the entire staff."

He said that panicked customers searching for items that are running out of stock have not helped the atmosphere in the store.

"It's honestly a scary, stressful time right now," he said.

Are you a retail employee working during the coronavirus outbreak?   Email retail@businessinsider.com

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direct link:

https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2020/03/04/a-leaked-target-email-urges-store-managers-to-carry-on-business-as-usual-while-coronavirus-fears-create-a-scary-stressful-time-for-employees/23940044/
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2/29/20
Target

Target is one of America’s most popular stores. With $72 billion in revenue for 2018, an increase of 3.48% over the year before, it’s easy to see why Target is the eighth largest retailer in the U.S. And, even if shoppers are getting tired of the Target brand, the big-box retailer is going nowhere. 

Well, except for six stores, that is. Chicago’s south side is losing two Target locations. Tennessee, Wisconsin, New York, and Minnesota are also saying goodbye to Target.

However, while six stores are going away, Target plans to open 19 brand new Target locations. On top of that, the company has plans to remodel 300 stores in 2019 and give facelifts to another 300 in 2020. 

Additionally, the company is opening small-format stores in downtown areas and on college campuses this year. Santa Barbara, Cape Cod, Washington, D.C. and Seattle will all boast of mini-Targets. 

In an effort to stave off the Amazon threat, Target is adding “Target +,” an online marketplace that rivals Amazon.com.

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AFTER YOU HAVE LOOKED AROUND HERE YOU MIGHT ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER LINKS:

More Target Benefits Info but the info is very general Tarbutt PR stuff:
https://tinyurl.com/y8urepu5
      and
Well-being Offerings & Discounts
https://tinyurl.com/ybpjjnp7

More info on Target: 

http://targetfiling.blogspot.com/
http://targetccguidelines.blogspot.com/
http://beckfordvtarget.blogspot.com/
http://targetguidelines.blogspot.com/

http://targetapdirectives2006.blogspot.com/


TARGET 'COUNSELING AND CORRECTIVE ACTION'

Some of the things you will find here are:


GROSS MISCONDUCT
4.   Weapons, Explosives and Other Dangerous Implements
The possession, use or threat of use of any kind of weapon, explosive, or other dangerous implement during working time or on company premises* whether or not it is armed, loaded, or properly secured and whether or not it is concealed on a team member's person or contained in a team member's personal property such as a purse, briefcase or vehicle.

Pepper spray, mace and tear gas, where legal, may be carried on company premises*. Defensive use of such products, on company premises*/time, while going to and from work, is not terminable if otherwise deemed appropriate. Offensive use on company premises*/time is terminable, even while going to and from work. Team members bear complete legal responsibility for their use of such products.

SERIOUS OFFENSES:
9.  DISORDERLY CONDUCT
a.   Harassment of team member(s), applicant(s), guest(s) or non-employee work contacts based on age, race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, citizenship status, military status or other characteristic protected by federal, state or local fair employment practice laws, which consists of offensive or degrading remarks, comments, innuendo, or implication; unwelcome requests to "date," "meet" or "visit" another team member; other similar behavior, etc., which to a reasonable person could be expected to create a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment, but which is not considered serious enough to be reckless conduct. See #5.b. “Reckless Conduct”.

OTHER
23.   No Call, No Show
Failing to call in or report to work for a scheduled shift. In addition, calling in and/or reporting to work two or more hours after a scheduled start time will also be deemed a No Call, No Show. NOTE: Team members must “call in” themselves. Any “call in” received on behalf of a team member (minor team members excluded) by someone other than the team member, will be deemed a No Call, No Show. (An appropriate HR Partner must approve any exceptions.)























============================================


Is Target using this policy to week out older workers for those who meet it's younger and hip demographics?

Are people losing their jobs because of this policy?

  
Are people not being promoted because of this policy?



ElL On Boarding Toolkit
for STLs

My Training and Developrnent

Managing Generational Differences

TALENT MANAGEMENT ACROSS GENERATIONS

As an STL you have a big influence over your new Executive Team Leaders, particularly during their first year. You also lead teams that are more diverse than ever before. Being able to tailor your leadership style to the needs of various generations can result in reduced conflicts, higher levels of productivity and retention.

Target's workforce includes team members from four generations. Each generation is shaped by the significant events that occurred during their formative years, the fast pace of change in the world, and increases in technological innovation. How people approach and solve problems may differ across generations. The three guidelines listed below are a framework to use when encountering differences in communication.

1. Suspend judgment. Ask yourself, "Am I making an assumption that this difference is a matter of personality, generation, or something else?"

2. Be curious. What open-ended questions could I ask this person to learn more about their perspective, background or past experience which might help us both understand where this difference is really coming from?

3. Share the Target culture. As a leader this is where you have the opportunity and responsibility to share what the expectations and culture at Target look like, and then explore ways to meet those expectations while respecting each person's individual differences. 

Remembering the "Think. Listen. Customize." model introduced in "The Overview" will help you think inclusively and suspend judgement.

"We define diversity as individuality. This individuality may include a wide spectrum of attributes like personal style, age, race, gender, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, language, physical ability, religious affiliation, family, citizenship status, socia-economic Circumstances, education and life experience. To us, diversity is any attribute that makes an individual unique that does not interfere with effective job performance. 

11 - (ed.2/09) 


Page 1


Managing Generational Differences

GENERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

A generation is an age group with shared historical experiences. Each generation has unique circumstances that may not apply to everyone in it, but give us a framework of understanding.

The following chart identifies various characteristics by generation that will help tailor your leadership style to more effectively communicate, motivate and coach across generations.

As you read through these descriptions, keep in mind they are generalizations only since each individual will vary based on personality and life experiences.

Attributes 
Patriotic, 
practical, Optimistic, 
driven, 
Balanced, 
Confident,
dedicated, 
seek personal conditional loyalty, 
determined, 
upbeat,
hierarchical, 
given gratification, 
skeptical inclusive, 
tolerant,
to personal sacrifice generous informal, 
civic and delayed minded gratification,
economical

Work Style 
Loyal, 
formal, 
Competitive, 
hard Efficient, 
effective, 
MUlti-task, 
seek diligent, 
by the working, 
service informal, 
adaptable, 
new and meaningful book, 
stable, 
oriented, 
team independent, 
challenges,
disciplined, 
player, 
driven, 
not impatient, 
lack tenacious, 
need uncomfortable budget minded, 
people skills, 
cynical supervision with ambiguity;

value process and structure, 
slow to adapt to over results, 
inexperienced at change; 
avoid overly sensitive handling difficult conflict;

reluctant to do feedback, 
people issues question or voice judgmental of disagreement different viewpoints

Authority! Hierarchical, Respect for Democratic; I Value autonomy and

Leadership command and power and rules are flexible; freedom control; rarely accomplishment collaboration is question authority important

Communication Formal yet personal; Somewhat formal Casual, direct Fast, casual, direct through proper through structured and electronic; and high-tech; channels network; mix of sometimes skeptical eager to please electronic and face to-
face

Recognition Personal Public Balance of fair Individual and public 
and Reward acknowledgement acknowledgement; compensation and praise; exposure; and satisfaction for career time off development work well done advancement; opportunities money

Work/Family! IWork and family Work comes first Value a work/life Value blending

Life Balance should be kept balance personal life into separate work

Loyalty Loyal to the Loyal to the Loyal to individual Loyal to the people
organization importance and career goals involved with the meaning of work project
and the function or profession

Views on Complex and Necessary for I Practical tools for I What else is there?

Technology challenging progress and getting things done
achievement



Page 2




UNDERSTANDING YOUR OWN THOUGHTS ON GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

The first step to effectively managing a multigenerational workforce is to understand how your generational experiences impact your ideas about appropriate work behaviors.

Ask yourself the following to understand how your life experience affects how you relate to others and how you need to accommodate different styles,

o What are the most important attributes of a Target team member?
o What are my views about loyalty to Target?
o What type of recognition do I feel is most important?
o What are my views on work / life balance?


Veteran (1922 - 1945)
Baby Boomer (1946 - 1964)
Generation X (1965 - 1980)
Generation Y (1981 - 2000)




Page 3


® What are my views on career development?
o When do I find my leadership style to be most flexible? Least flexible?
o What is my comfort level in leading team members from various generations? What are my strengths? Developmental opportunities?
o What are SOme COmmon situations between generations that take place in my store?
o When it comes to generational differences, what are the strengths of my leadership team?
Opportunities?
<:> How will generational differences influence my style of leadership, communication and recognition?


Page 4


Managing Generational Differences

COACHING ACROSS GENERATIONS

Today's workforce is more diverse than ever before with more generations interacting in the workplace. The following are tips on how to leverage the strengths and manage the opportunities of each generation. Challenge yourself to think about how you can coach,
Communicate and relate to each generation and how it impacts the OnBoarding experience of
a new ETL.

Coaching Generation Y (1981-2000):

o Acknowledge their talents and fresh perspectives
<:> Let them know you can and are willing to learn from them 
o Be open to and accepting of new and different ways of working 
o Coach them to reach for stretch goals 
o Involve them in significant projects 
o Solicit their opinions 
o Acknowledge their need for connection by helping them feel part of the group 
o Appeal to their sense of idealism
o Have them figure it out themselves and then check in 
o Offer to be a mentor or find one for them 
o Keep communication clear, direct and specific and follow up to ensure your message was understood 
o Build a fun, challenging and fast-paced work environment

(;) Look for ways to combine work and play


Coaching Generation X (1965-1980):

oAcknowledge their talents and expertise 
o Let them know you can and are willing to learn from them 
o Use clear and specific language when communicating 
o Get right to the point in a respectful way - don't sugarcoat bad news
® Allow them as much flexibility as is possible and appropriate 
o Acknowledge and relate to their skepticism 
o Convey that you care and support them
<:> Create a fun, relaxed work atmosphere
<:> Provide sincere, positive feedback with a focus on being specific and timely 
o Offer learning in a variety of ways and move on when the point is made 
o Establish the outer boundaries and allow them to operate more freely within them 
o Understand and honor their need for a work/life balance as long as responsibilities and
expectations are being met


Page 5


Coaching Baby Boomers (1946-1964):

o Acknowledge their experience, expertise, dedication and length of service
® Seek their help and counsel with issues involving workplace politics 
o Observe and learn how they navigate charged environments and "the system" 
o Utilize them as mentors and ask for their input
<;) Use them as sounding boards to test new ideas before plunging in 
o Solicit their ideas on what has worked or not worked in the past and why
o Focus on relationships as well as results 
o Demonstrate that you are carrying your share of the load 
o Create a consensual process where they will have a voice and hear other's ideas 
o Probe if you suspect conflict - they may not be direct
o Speak optimistically and look at things in terms of meeting objectives and achieving 
o Focus on challenges, give them problems to solve 
o Give public recognition and perks (if possible) 
o Gain buy-in by inviting them to participate rather than telling them.


Coaching Veterans (1922-1945):

oAcknowledge and leverage their experience, expertise, dedication and length of service 
o Pay attention to the chain and command or protocol 
o Speak positively of your organization's history - the legacy they helped create
® Be direct but polite - don't disregard social graces 
o Appeal to the traditional values of loyalty, hard work and family 
o Use the personal touch - a handwritten note or Great Team Card 
o Avoid situations where they could lose face while others are watching 
o Demonstrate interest in and importance of the work they are doing 
o Be patient with their approach to technology; allow time and explain the logic behind the technology


Page 6


YOUR ONBOARDING FOCUS: GENERATION Y (1981-2000)

Generation Y makes up nearly 50% of the workforce in Target stores, followed by Gen X and Baby Boomers. Generation Y brings a very different perspective, set of values and work ethic to the workplace.  As Generation Y continues to replace the aging workforce, it becomes more important to understand how to coach and lead them.

The chart below lists common issues encountered when working Generation Y and actions to address them.

Personal time is paramount. 
Focus on the work that needs to be completed.
• Help the team member understand the need to build relationships to be successful at Target, which is difficult to do if they are not present.
• Allow schedule flexibility where possible.

Frequent requests for feedback  
Provide feedback in smaller, less formal ways (in person, phone, and email).
• Provide specific, actionable feedback.
• Interact as a coach, not as an authority figure.
• Be explicit, "I am giving you feedback ... "
• Tie feedback to ways it will help them obtain more opportunities.

Technological savvy

• Provide online resources.
• Use email as one way to send recognition.

Interest in career advancement • Discuss development at each status meeting.
• Assist team member in obtaining mentors.
• Define skills for advancement and manage expectations for timing
of promotion.

DeSire for unique experiences

• Let team member know how his/her tasks fit into the big picture.
• Help team member balance doing routine tasks with those that are more challenging.
• Help team member build the crucial skill of tolerance for monotonous tasks.
• Be personable have a sense of humor while focusing on the work.

Prefer detailed instructions

• Provide basic structure and support them when they take the lead.
• Provide experiences to develop skills and intuition.

Crave rapid advancement 

• Talk about which skills need to be demonstrated before being promoted.
• Present stretch assiqnrnsnts to learn and grow.
• Use new learning opportunities as rewards.


Reference: Managing Generation Y by Carolyn Martin and Bruce Tulgan

Page 7






You can look at other other interesting Tarbutt sites, such as:

http://targetfiling.blogspot.com/
http://targetccguidelines.blogspot.com/
http://beckfordvtarget.blogspot.com/
http://targetguidelines.blogspot.com/
http://targetapdirectives2006.blogspot.com/

Monday, December 8, 2014


Target's Secret Interview Questions

Interviewer Questions for Executive Team Leader or Team Leader

1) Tell me about a time when you exerted extra effort to help a guest.
2) Describe how you think that product out of stocks can be proactively prevented in the store.
3) Tell me about the last time you missed a deadline and why.
4) Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something with little help or direction from others.
5) Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something unexpected or on short notice.
6) Tell me about a time when you had to learn a new skill that was important for your job.
7) Tell me what you think is the significance or importance of maintaining the Target store image.
8) Tell me about a time when you were dissatisfied with the appearance of your work area and what you did to improve it?


Interviewer Questions for Executive Team Leader Human Resources

1) Tell me about a time that you were part of a group that did not work together as well as it should have.
2) Tell me about a time when you went all out to make your store, or work area, look presentable.
3) Tell me about a time when you had to shift attention between multiple activities that competed for your time.
4) Tell me about a work program or project that was not running well and what you did about it.
5) Tell me about a time when you had to shift attention between multiple activities that competed for your time.
6) Tell me about a time when you addressed a safety concern.
7) Tell me about the last time you had too much to do and too little time to do it.
8) Tell me about a time you investigated your work area for possible improvements.
9) Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult guest or co-worker.


Interviewer Questions for Store Team Leader

1) Tell me about a time when you executed a plan in a timely manner.
2) Tell me about a time when you were unable to help someone.
3) What do you view as the biggest challenge regarding in-stocks in a Target store?
4) Tell me about a time when you asked for feedback that would improve your performance.
5) Tell me about a time when you had to drive a change that was not well received by others.
6) Tell me about the last time you took a project that was a stretch of your skill set.
7) Tell me about a time when you had to introduce yourself to someone new and how you handled this situation?
8) Describe a situation when your planning led to a favorable outcome.
 


Thanks to Dave K for providing this info. If you have confidential Tarbut info send it to me for publication.


Target's Canadian stores lose nearly $1 billion US in under one year

BY LINDA NGUYEN, CANADIAN PRESS FEBRUARY 26, 2014
 Full story at: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Target+Canadian+stores+lose+nearly+billion+since+opening+last/9553242/story.html


  
Target Corp.'s Canadian stores lost nearly US $1 billion in less than a year of operations as the Minneapolis-based discount retailer began its first expansion outside the United States.  For the full year, the Canadian segment lost US $941 billion before excluded items on US $1.3 billion of sales. Target said its annual gross margin rate was 14.9 per cent.

Hopes had been high last year when the chic discount retailer announced it was opening its first stores in Canada after buying some of the properties from the now-defunct Zellers chain.

Since its arrival in March, the retailer has faced high expansion costs and disappointing sales as shoppers complained about near-empty shelves and notably higher prices than at U.S. Target stores.

Despite the rocky start, Target announced last month that it will be continuing with its Canadian expansion with the opening of nine more stores this year.  It plans on opening two locations in Mississauga, Ont., and one store each in Toronto, Ottawa and Barrie, Ont. Stores will also be added in Edmonton, Victoria, Winnipeg and Candiac, Que.

Five of the locations will be in former Zellers locations, while the others will be newly constructed stores.  By the end of 2014,, Target said it will have a total of 133 locations in Canada.


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Don't forget to look at these Target sites:

New addition to keep up with the Target Class Action suits, go to:  

http://targetstoressucks.blogspot.com/

======================================================================                                                                                                                            
PREPARE  AND EXECUTE

My Pay and Benefits
Script #3: team member meetings


CONFIDENTALITY NOTICE
You are receiving this information because you have a leadership role in the preparation for 2012 Benefits Open Enrolment. A well defined communication cascade is being followed to ensure the best experience possible for our team members. All intended recipients here have received this communication. If you have any questions contact benefits.feedback@target.com  

ASSUMPTION
Attendees have no prior knowledge of the health care strategy or changes for 2012 Open Enrollment. Leader is aware of the medical plan choices offered at your location. If needed, log into the Health Care Benefits Engagement Portal to view a list of medical plans offered at your location.


OBJECTIVES
• Share business case and changes for 2012 Open Enrollment, as well as what will not change
• Answer questions, direct team members to resources and tools for more information
• Reinforce next steps and what materials they can expect to receive prior to Open Enrollment


WHY WE ARE HERE
• Thank you for joining us/me today. I have some important information to share with you about health care benefits. I will give an overview about what is – and is not – changing and what you can do to prepare for the upcoming Open Enrollment period.
• While I know not all of these changes are applicable to you, due to privacy requirements we must share this information with all team members, so I appreciate your patience and attention today.
• As I share this information with you, please note areas where you would like to know more. I will answer your questions at the end of this meeting.


                                                                                                   18 Leader Execution Guide



Posted by Picasa

                                                                                                      
PREPARE AND EXECUTE


BACKGROUND
• Target, like many employers, is faced with the serious challenge of rising health care costs. But, we have a plan.

• Because we care about our teams, Target is committed to providing quality, affordable health care coverage. I am proud to share that we have been able to keep key elements of our health care plans the same in 2012.
  1)  Target will continue to pay for the majority of your health care costs.
  2)  For our national health care plans, the HRA or HAS accounts contributions, health plan deductibles, PPO  copayments, pharmacy copayments, coinsurance coverage, and out-of-pocket maximums will not change in 2012.
  3)  We also have minimized changes to premiums.

• We are working hard to control the things we can, and are making thoughtful adjustments with your best interests in mind. This helps us control costs for you and Target while still providing affordable, quality health care coverage.

• Target is self-insured, which means that the company is fully responsible for the health care benefits we provide. Target is the insurance company. Target decided how the plans work, what team members will pay for coverage, and the services covered by the plan. We partner with UnitedHealthcare and other regional administrators like Kaiser and HealthPattners to confidentially administer the plans.
• Target shares the total cost of health care with you.
  1)  Target pays the majority of the cost.
  2)  Team members share in health care costs through premiums and out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and co-insurance or copays for health care services.
  3)  Because we share the cost, if health care expenses decrease, Target and team members both save.    And, if expenses rise, we all pay more.

• In order to keep costs down for all of us, we all need to be informed and actively engaged in our health care choices.


CHANGES
• While most of the changes I will share are for the 2012 plan year, some will not affect you until 2013. I want to tell you now, so that you have time to prepare. I will also be providing you with a summary page of all the changes at the end of our meeting.
• Before I share what is changing, I want to emphasize an important point:
  During Open Enrollment, the single most important action you can take is to go     online or call to choose your health care benefits.

Your current medical and dental plans will NOT automatically continue. During your Open Enrollment period, you must log on or call the Target Benefits Center to make your choices.


NOTE: There are two versions of the script change 1. If you offer the Kaiser, HealthPartners, or BCBS-Alabama HMO at your location, read 1B.


NOTE: Hawaii locations DO NOT need to share this change as the medical plans offered in Hawaii are not changing. All other changes (2-4) do apply and should be shared with teams in Hawaii.


                                                                                                                          19 Leader Execution Guide





                                                                                                                                PREPARE AND EXECUTE


1A. LOCATIONS WITHOUT KAISER, BCBS-ALABAMA, OR HEALTHPATNERS HMOs
[Note: Log onto Health Care Benefits Engagement Portal to view a list of medical plans offered at your location]

In 2013, we will offer only account-based health care plan options (HRA or HSA).


Nearly half of our enrolled team members are already enrolled in an HRA or HAS. These plans were first offered in 2006 and have proven to reduce health care costs for both Target and team members because unused HRA and HAS account dollars roll over to the following plan year, helping to build savings to pay for future medical costs.


We will phase out plans that offer flat co-pays for services (like the PPO) and instead offer account-based plans with coinsurance.


As a result, 2012 will be the last year to enroll in the PPO and HMO. These plans will be available only to those who are currently enrolled.


We will continue to offer the Basic Plus PPO for Stores part-time team members. In 2012, the deductible and out-of-pocket maximums will not change.

OR

1B. LOCATIONS WITH KAISER, BCBS-ALABAMA, OR HEALTHPARTNERS HMOs
In 2013, we will offer only account-based plan options (HRA, HSA). Nearly half of our enrolled team members are already in an HRA or HAS. These plans were first offered in 2006 and have proven to reduce health care costs for both Target and team members because unused HRA and HAS account dollars roll over to the following plan year, helping team members build savings to pay for future medical costs.


We will phase out plans that offer flat co-pays for services (like the PPO) and instead offer account-based plans with coinsurance.


As a result, 2012 will be the last year to enroll in the PPO. Only those currently enrolled in the PPO will be allowed to re-enroll for 2012.


While we will continue to offer the Kaiser, HealthPartners and BCBS-Alabama HMO plans because they provide access to doctors and facilities that team members otherwise couldn’t access, these plans will be restructured to more closely align with the HRA plan.


The plans are changing for 2012, but the good news is that the premiums will be decreasing. The (Insert: Kaiser or HealthPartners) plan will continue to have copayments for some services but you will now have a deductible to reach before the coinsurance phase begins. More information about these changes will be shared during Open Enrollment. [Note: do not read this paragraph for BCBS-Alabama s the plan design is not changing in 2012.]


2. WE WILL VERIFY DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY.
We know that our team members have good intentions when enrolling dependents, but research tells us that approximately 5 to 7 percent of enrolled dependents are actually not eligible. When ineligible dependents are enrolled in our health plans, we all pay the price in the form of higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.


In June 2012, all team members with a dependent enrolled in our plans will be asked to provide documentation to make sure that only eligible dependents are enrolled.


For most of you, this will not be a problem. If you are covering someone who is not eligible – such as an ex-spouse, child over age 26, or a niece or nephew for whom you are not the legal guardian – that dependent will be dropped from coverage.


The only action you need to take during Open Enrollment is to make sure you enroll only eligible dependents.   During the Dependent Verification Process in June, you will receive more information about the process, what documents are required, and support to help you complete the process. This will keep our overall costs down for all of us. Information about who is eligible is available online at http://www.targetpayandbenefits.com/  or by calling the Target Benefits Center at 800-828-5850.


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PREPARE AND EXECUTE

3.  A TOBACCO SURCHARGE WILL BE INTRODUCED.
Because tobacco use increases health care costs, you will pay an annual surcharge of $260, which equates to $5 per week, if you or any of your enrolled dependents use tobacco products.
During 2012 Open Enrollment, you will be asked to state whether you or any of your covered dependents have used tobacco products in the past six months. If you do not complete this step, you will be charged the $260 tobacco surcharge.


There are two ways to end the tobacco surcharge:
1) After six months of being tobacco free, call the Target Benefits Center to have the surcharge removed,

OR

2) Complete the free ‘Quit Plan’ tobacco cessation program and call the Target Benefits Cengter to have the surcharge removed.

4. ALL TEAM MEMBERS MUST GO ONLINE OR CALL TO ENROLL THIS YEAR.
The best way to become a better user of health care is to understand your options and make informed decisions. That’s why this year you must actively choose your benefits during Open Enrollment.

You can do this one of two ways:
   1)   Go online to www.targetpayandbenefits.com,  or
   2)    Call the Target Benefits Center at 800-828-5850  

This is a change from prior years, when you did not need to do anything if you were happy with your current plan. 

However, because we are moving to HRA and HAS plans and you will have new dental options to choose from and because many team members are in plans tht my not be most cost effective option, everyone must take this action this year during Open enrollment.

All the information you need will be available online. By reviewing your options and making your benefit choices, you are taking the first important step in being an informed health care consumer.

We want you to choose for yourself. If you do not go online or call the Target Benefits Center to re-enroll, you will be placed into a Target-selected medical plan and will be listed as a tobacco user, resulting in the $260 annual surcharge.


  • We all need to take an active role in our health care decisions. We are asking for your commitment and partnership through this process. Together, we can manage our health and our health care costs.
PAUSE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS

•  I know this is a lot of information.
•  I would like to answer your questions or concerns.
[Respond using FAQs. If questions are asked that are not ddressed via FAQs, note them and email them to benefits.feedback@target.com]
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 PREPAIR AND EXECUTE

NEXT STEPS
 The most important point I can make today is you MUST take action and go online or call to re-enroll in your benefits during your Open Enrollment period.   

Re-enrollment activity is highest near the end of each Open Enrollment period, so plan ahead to re-enroll early.
•  If you are not familiar with the website or don’t remember your password, please log on to http://www.targetpayandbenefits.com/  or call 800-828-5850 today to make sure that you are ready well before for Open Enrollment.
•  Even if you aren’t eligible for or interested in health care benefits, the targetpayandbenefits.com web site provides information about benefits offered to all team members, including the My Discounts website with hundreds of discounts on various goods and services, information about our free NurseLine, Team Member LifeResources and more. I encourage you to take a look.
•  Important information will be sent to your home during the upcoming months, be sure to log onto her or insideTGT to ensure that your home address is up-to-date.
•  Just as in prior years, you will receive an Open Enrollment packet that explains your enrollment options, premiums and other important information. This year it is even more important to read these materials before you enroll.
•  Changes cannot be made after March 31, 2012. Saying you were not informed about required re-enrollment will not qualify as an exception. You will be notified of required enrollment through mail, from leadership and through other communication vehicles.
•  There will be a training session available to you to help you learn more about Open Enrollment, the tools available to you, and how to use the website to enroll online.
•  Thank you for your time today.
[Respond to additional questions using the FAQs provided.]


CLOSE


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  Target HQ is busy looking in-


A big 'Hello' to all you Tarbutt HQ types who are looking in from Minneapolis!  I see you are spending record amounts of time on this site and also looking at some of my other sites.
 
When you drop by my blogs, site meters record this, what you look at, how long you spend and I am working on getting an app that will let me know what you had for lunch (ok I just made that one up).

IP Address: 161.225.196.111 — [Target Corporation]
Operating System: WinXP
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Resolution: 1280x800
Visit Length: 23 hours 45 mins 5 secs
(this stat is just for the last 2 days!)


You are all welcome, download all you like and poke around as much as you want.  Some of you may be thinking of leaving Tarbutt, before you do be sure and take with you some nice T. confidential information and when you are gone keep me in mind as I would like to publish some of these documents.  I am particularly interested in anything that shows other Team members just how T. is screwing them, so keep me in mind for such things but FYI, I do not pay for or sell such info.  (drop a line to me via:  consumeractivist@hotmail.com )

Don't forget to look at other interesting Tarbutt sites, such as:
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 12/31/11
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