As a Target team member and essential worker, I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of myself, our team and our community as the pandemic is ravaging the U.S. and the spread of Covid-19 is uncontrolled.

Over 276,000 Americans have died from Covid-19. And health officials are predicting that cases and deaths will dramatically increase over the winter months. From November 20 to December 3, 2020, cases totaled 2,415,129 and 24,000 died from Covid-19. Millions chose to travel and gather for Thanksgiving, which experts say will lead to further spread and spikes in cases. Communities hit hardest by the pandemic have been Black, Indigenous and Latinx populations, as systematic racial disparities in health, socio-economic status, and job opportunities correlate with higher exposure and death. We need to acknowledge the damage and trauma Covid has created in these communities and for everyone in the U.S. and the world, and how precautions or lack thereof directly affects our livelihood as the pandemic rages on. 

I thank the company for the measures that have been put in place for our protection thus far. But now, as the pandemic is hitting hardest, I believe we need to be even more vigilant by adding restrictions to protect the team and community. 

During normal years, the holidays are a time for profit and sales, as consumers are buying gifts and investing in indoor projects. But this year is different. Profit, number-crunching, and routine movements should be re-imagined to prioritize the safety and health of our community. The virus should not be in our peripherals; it should be at the forefront of our daily routine and interactions. I believe our sole purpose should be:

Serving our community essentials safely and protecting and compensating our team members for their work and sacrifice to the community.

I am asking Target to initiate a company-wide safety plan for the winter months and duration of the pandemic. This includes restricting in-store shopping to pharmacy guests only and transitioning to contactless shopping with our drive-up and shipping options.

 

COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN: IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR TEAM MEMBER AND COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY

To help mitigate the spread of the virus, Target should be monitoring the team, the community, and the store environment and compensating the team for serving as essential workers.

MONITORING THE TEAM

•Wellness checks for all employees should be administered before entry including temperature checks. 

•Mandatory testing for employees. 

MONITORING THE COMMUNITY

•Station a door greeter and security personnel at the entrance of the store to communicate new safety restrictions and expectations upon entry. These measures include:

•Shopping in-store designated for pharmacy guests only. 

•Conduct a wellness check with guests before entry. 

•Strongly enforce the mask mandate, refusing service to those who do not wear a mask. 

•Limit one guest per household. 

•Maintain 6 feet of social distancing while in the store.

MONITORING THE ENVIRONMENT 

•Implement hourly sanitizing and cleaning of surfaces and devices.

•Strongly encourage team members to wash their hands every 30 minutes.

•Strongly encourage and enforce 6 feet distancing. 

•Provide another meal space to encourage social distancing and allow team members to spread out while eating and on break without masks on.

COMPENSATION AND CARE FOR TEAM MEMBERS

•Make work voluntary. Intentionally offer elders, those with disabilities, pregnancy, and vulnerable workers LOA. Intentionally offer any employees LOA due to health concerns and life-threatening virus. Take care of those who have been loyal employees at Target and reward and thank team members who volunteer to serve in the community at this time.

•To thank and compensate team members for serving the community while being exposed to Covid-19, increase team member minimum wage to $20 per hour X 40 hours. All team members receive a full-time wage, including those on LOA, who test positive for Covid-19, and are quarantining/self-isolating due to exposure.

•Be flexible with labor hours. Schedule employees no more than 40 hours to decrease exposure. Schedule team members who choose to work in-store per their request of hours, as they have may other responsibilities, school, and safety concerns during this time.

•Provide monthly bonuses for employees who work and are exposed to the public.

•Staff more security personnel to support team members in communicating safety measures and handle escalated guests.

 

Please sign this petition and share it to encourage Target to better protect and compensate team members to serve the community safely during this time of crisis!