Target adding resources to contactless services for holiday season

As the holiday season quickly approaches, Target is looking at new ways to expand its contactless resources in order to make shopping easier during the busiest time of the year.

To do just that, the retailer will be offering its current team more hours and training opportunities, as well as hire broadly across its stores and distribution centers to help serve guests, the Minneapolis-based retailer said.

“The success of our business strategy rests on the strength of our team and their ability to adjust quickly to the needs of our guests and their changing shopping patterns,” Melissa Kremer, Target’s chief human resources officer said. “Throughout the year, the team has successfully balanced strong demand in our stores with surging digital volume. Knowing that the holiday season will be unlike any other, we’re building in even more flexibility to make sure Target remains a safe and convenient place to work and shop, while investing in our team’s industry-leading pay and benefits.”

The number of store team members devoted to the Drive Up and Order Pickup services will be doubled, as well as train team members to help during peak shopping periods.

Team members also will be packing online orders that are to be shipped directly to guests’ homes and aid in fulfilling more than 90% of its digital orders, the company said.

In addition, distribution centers will be sending more inventory to stores to ensure each location as the most in-demand items stocked.

There also will be a team in front of stores who will greet and direct guests, as well as be responsible for such safety precautions as cleaning and disinfecting carts and baskets, and metering access so social distancing measures can be maintained.

Seasonal team members will be receiving a starting wage of $15 and such coronavirus health and wellness benefits as free access to health care via virtual doctor visits, free backup care, access to resources that help find child care services or educational needs, mental health support, personal protective equipment, and waived absenteeism policy for COVID-19 related illnesses that include a quarantine pay for 14 days.