Target is a US-based retail corporation with 1,926 stores operating throughout the US. It has over 35,000 employees working at Target stores across the US. It was ranked 37 in the 2020 list of Fortune 500 showing the largest US corporations by revenue. Target is known for its attractive price ranges and the quality of products provided in those price ranges. In this article, we will discuss on Target Bereavement policy.
What is Bereavement Policy?
Under the bereavement policy, the employees working in a certain organization are given leave or time-off, which may or may not be paid, in case of the death of some close friend or family of the employee. Although it is not compulsory or mandated by any government yet, organizations provide bereavement leave keeping in mind the condition of the employee and giving them time to grieve.
Bereavement Policy at Target
Target understands and empathizes with their employees and so, they give their employees time to grieve the death of their loved ones and attend the subsequent events. These can include attending a funeral, the time required to make the final arrangements, celebrating life attendance or looking into wills or estate-related documents.
Who’s eligible for such leave at Target?
Full-time team members, with an average work of 20 hours a week are provided paid bereavement leave for 3 days. Based on shift lengths, they may be provided leave of 24 hours in case of an 8-hour shift, 30 hours in case of a 10-hour shift and 36 hours in case of a 12-hour shift. This time period is provided when an immediate family member dies. However, if some close friend dies, the paid leave is of 4 hours.
Paid leave is not available to part-time, seasonal, or limited team members.
Team members who are not eligible for paid time-off or the members who want extended time-off are eligible for unpaid time-off.
Who are immediate and distant family members?
For clarity, Target has also stated who’re the immediate and distant family members. Immediate family members include:
- Spouse
- Parents (including mother-in-law and father-in-law)
- Children
- Brother/Sister
- Grandparents/Grandchildren
- Stillborn
- Aunt/Uncle
- Niece/Nephew
Distant family members include all the other family members who’ve not been listed above. Some of the examples of distant family members could be grandparents-in-law, uncle/aunt-in-law, cousins, great grandparents, etc.
Procedure for applying for bereavement leave
A request by the team member has to be submitted with the store manager before he/she takes the time-off. If that is not possible, the team member should submit the time-off request before 12 p.m. CT on the Monday of the pay run. The team manager is responsible for looking after all the future processes.
Other services offered by Target
Target also assists the members who’ve suffered a loss in a number of ways. They help update marital status in case of the death of a spouse. They also guide one for changing the beneficiaries for different insurances and policies and also provide information related to taxes and other important stuff.
Employee Reviews about Target’s Bereavement Policy
The employee reviews show that Target provides adequate bereavement leave and is very sympathetic towards its employees. It is very supportive and understanding in such cases. It understands their pains and takes measures to mitigate the same. It makes sure that the employees get the time they need. Moreover, it’s easily accessible and convenient to use.
However, there were issues too that had been pointed out by the employees in regard to Target’s bereavement policy, some of them being:
- 3 days is too little a time when it comes to bereavement leave and they should increase it.
- The paid bereavement leave is only for the full-time workers and not for the part-time, seasonal or limited employees.
Conclusion
Target provides both, paid as well as unpaid bereavement leaves depending upon the type of employee one is. It not only gives time to its members to grieve the loss of their loved ones but also offers them guidance in some procedures pertaining to insurances and similar policies that usually have to be followed after the death of a person. It is sympathetic, understanding and supportive in providing bereavement leave to its employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Does Target ask for proof from an employee seeking bereavement leave?
No, the employees need not provide any proof in order to avail of the leave. However, Target can ask for the required documents, if needed, in order to verify the request.
2) Are all the full-time employees eligible for the leave?
Employees who work for at least 20 hours a week and have worked at Target for at least 90 days are eligible for the leave.
3) Has Target right to deny the bereavement policy?
Since there is no such law in the US making bereavement leaves compulsory, it is up to the employer to grant bereavement leave or not. Hence, Target can, within its legal rights, deny the leave.
