Target is getting stricter about showing up on time. Starting in September, the retailer will roll out a new points-based system to track unexcused lateness and absences for store and warehouse workers, part of a broader push to tighten schedules and sharpen in-store operations as leaders try to boost the guest experience.
As reported by Business Insider, the system dings employees a quarter of a point for arriving more than eight minutes late, one point for missing a shift without prior approval, and three points for missing a shift without telling a manager. Discipline ramps up along a set ladder: a manager checks in at three points, counseling at five, a final warning at nine, and termination at 12 points. Points drop off after 365 days.
A Target spokesperson told Business Insider the new system will launch alongside a unified scheduling app for workers and managers and said the change "does not change Target's commitment to comply with protected absence, leave, or accommodation laws."
Workers and managers are already talking
On the ground, the policy shift is already getting airtime in store huddles and employee chats, and it is spilling into public forums as staff tries to figure out how this will work in real life. A widely read Reddit thread collecting posts from current and former Target workers highlights questions about when the policy truly kicks in, how strictly the eight-minute tardiness window will be applied, and whether sick time will still fully excuse absences.
The timing is sensitive. Earlier this year in Minneapolis, Target's hometown, workers staged walkouts and protests that put a spotlight on working conditions and company policies. Those actions have added extra scrutiny to any new attendance rules, according to The American Prospect.
How it fits into Target’s turnaround plan
Target executives have been clear that sharpening the in-store experience is central to the company's next phase. In March, the retailer announced plans to invest more in payroll, training, and technology to support store teams and create a more consistent shopping trip.
Framing the effort as a "new chapter of growth," CEO Michael Fiddelke pointed to moves designed to help teams execute more reliably and keep stores running smoothly, according to Target. A standardized attendance system fits neatly inside that operating playbook, even if it lands very personally for the people being scored.
Legal and workplace context
Target has said the new attendance tool will not change its obligation to honor protected leaves and absences. Federal law backs that up and limits how far any attendance policy can go.
The Family and Medical Leave Act provides job-protected leave for qualifying medical and family reasons, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Separately, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities, per the EEOC.
Employees who believe attendance points were assigned to time that should have been protected can raise the issue with HR internally or review those federal resources to understand their rights.
What to watch next
The new system is set to start rolling out in September. Hourly staff can expect HR communications, training, and a phased move to the unified scheduling app in the run-up to launch.
Labor advocates and local organizers are likely to keep a close eye on how the policy is applied in practice, especially in Minneapolis, and whether disciplinary actions increase once the point system goes live.
