I work in a Target Garden center in Florida. I lead a crew of three. I got promoted to team lead just about a year ago and was transferred to a different store than the one I had previously worked at. Since being promoted I have found the conditions at this store to be inhumane to myself and my workers. And the way these conditions are handled at this store has caused me to have to pay out large amounts of money and both pain and suffering.
Target has a rule for garden workers, once you go out to the garden center you are not allowed to go back into the store and leave the garden registers unattended. You must have a replacement in order to visit the restroom or water fountain. You are supposed to get two 15 minute breaks a day and a 30 minute lunch. There is supposed to be a schedule for this. But rarely are the garden workers put on this schedule. And for the most part there is only one worker in the garden center for hours at a time. We are forced to hold our urine for hours and hours which has resulted in two painful bladder infections for myself. And the lack of being able to get water when needed ended up with me being hospitalized for extreme dehydration.
At the same time Target has dropped my benefits numerous times and I have had to pay out of pocket for these services. This is due to the HR's mistake of never updating my file after my promotion. I have called the Team member services and have been told that the mistake has been handled. But once again I have received a letter informing me I have no coverage. Yet still money is taken out of my check to cover the benefits that I supposedly don't have, and has been taken out all along. I am paying for a service for which I'm not getting. I have had to call and argue many times about this issue. And still I don't get the coverage I am entitled to as a team lead.
Also the conditions at this store are horrible. Both myself and my workers will make calls to the managers asking for a break, on a regular basis, we are told there is no one available to relieve us and when and if they do send someone to relieve us so we can use the restroom or visit the water fountain, it can take up to an hour or more and sometimes doesn't happen at all. Usually we end up waiting till the next garden worker comes in so we can use the restroom.
Every worker that works INSIDE the store is free to visit the restroom at any time and get drinks. But not the workers who work out in the hot Florida sun. My crew complains to me about the lack of concern Target has for its garden workers. And I see it first hand on a daily basis, and once again I'm sitting here with a painful bladder infection. This will require a doctors visit and a missed day of work. I will more than likely end up paying out of pocket $200 to $300 dollars for the doctors visit that should cost at the most $70 if I was covered under the benefits I pay for but apparently don't have again. And probably another $80 dollars for a bottle of antibiotics that should cost $25 at the most.
Target's treatment of its garden workers is pitiful to say the least. The are completely unconcerned with the conditions we work under. When we are out in the burning sun, thirsting, the managers and other workers are inside in the air conditioning in comfort. When we are out in the thirty degree weather in winter they are inside in the heat. We can beg for a break to get warm for 15 minutes and use the restroom and may or may not receive it. When we are out in the pouring rain they are inside and dry. Garden workers are largely forgotten about. And it has cost me missed work and money. I have been told that my job is in danger because of attendance. But these health issues are largely due to the way Target treats its garden workers. I want to keep my job. But I may need a lawyer in order to do so.
Fed Up
oviedo, Florida
U.S.A.
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