Roughly 150 Target merchandising employees who have been working remotely are being told to pack their bags for the Twin Cities or accept severance. Company leaders say the shift is meant to tighten collaboration and speed up decisions on what ends up on store shelves. The affected roles sit on two merchandising teams and will be expected to report regularly to Target’s Minneapolis headquarters. Target says it will offer relocation support for those who move and severance for those who do not, as it looks to sharpen product assortments and revive slipping sales.
What Target Told Staff
In a message to employees, Target cast the move as a push to reinforce merchandising decision-making through more in-person work and promised support through the transition, according to the Star Tribune. The paper reports that workers on two merchandising teams were given a straightforward choice: relocate to the Twin Cities or take a severance package. Company spokespeople also stressed that team leaders, not a single corporate edict, continue to set specific in-office schedules.
A Wider Push To Bring Workers Back
This recall is one piece of a broader turnaround effort Target described at its annual investor meeting, where executives said they plan to invest in stores, staffing, and AI in an attempt to reverse a sales slump, according to CBS News. Chief merchandising officer Cara Sylvester told investors the retailer needs more disciplined merchandising and conceded that, “Our performance over the last few years has not met expectations, and that is on us,” a remark detailed by the Star Tribune. Leaders argue that having teams together in the same building speeds decisions and helps push products from idea to store aisle more quickly.
What This Means Locally
For Twin Cities workers, the change reinforces a trend they have been feeling for a while. Parts of Target’s merchandising organization have been tightening in-office expectations in recent months, which can scramble commutes and child-care plans for employees who live outside the region, according to reporting. Local coverage has chronicled Target’s gradual moves to reshape its downtown presence and headquarters routines, including staged return-to-office efforts earlier this year. For employees now deciding whether to move, the size of the relocation assistance and severance packages will be key to the math.
Analysts Say It’s Not A Cure-All
Retail analysts point out that seating everyone closer together may help decisions move faster, but it will not single-handedly solve problems with product assortment or execution. Neil Saunders of GlobalData told CBS News that Target has been underperforming and needs sharper execution to lure shoppers back. For the roughly 150 affected employees, the choice to relocate or walk away with severance will show how far workers are willing to bend on in-person expectations in an era when many still prize flexible work.
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