Target guilty of age discrimination

Target Sucks Says - wrote:

Part of the article From Tucson Weekly of: February 25, 2010
Article is at: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/getting-th...
Getting the Ax
Longtime Tucson Target employees say they were forced out because of their higher salaries
by Mari Herreras
Manny Lovio's little stack of papers may be the only proof he has that at one time, his career at Target meant something.
Some of the letters are from the principal and a teacher at Richardson Elementary School, thanking him for contributions he made in 2005 for several school events. Another letter is from a local Marine Corps rep thanking him for toy donations.
If you've been inside any Target store, thank-you letters from schools and community organizations are a normal sight, usually displayed in a glass case near the restrooms or customer service. As an executive team member, Lovio says, he chose what donation requests to approve or reject.
On Nov. 12, 2005, he was unexpectedly called into the store manager's office.
According to Lovio, after 26 years with Target—without any discipline problems, until the very end—he was asked to quit. When he refused, he was fired. He was escorted to his desk to clean out his belongings and then guided out of the store in front of co-workers and customers.
Lovio says that he was in a state of shock. He'd lost his career, which started in 1983 when Target first came to town and he got a part-time summer job there.
"It was humiliating," says Lovio.
He took the job right after he'd graduated from San Manuel High School, when he moved to Tucson to go to Pima Community College. Slowly, he moved up at work, starting as a minimum-wage employee and eventually becoming a salaried store executive, sometimes working 60-to-80-hour weeks.
"At one time, I was the only executive who got graded for doing an almost perfect job," he says.
He helped open the Target at El Con Mall and was sent to other stores to help when certain departments weren't performing correctly. His reviews all along were either excellent or outstanding, he says.
A year after being fired, he filed a discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General's Office, noting that he was replaced by a younger employee who was white. Lovio is Mexican-American.
http://beckfordvtarget.blogspot.com/
http://targetfiling.blogspot.com/

This was almost identical to what happened to my brother-in-law. Except, he wasn't mexican-american.
Something happened several years ago. Once, he was the ETL who they sought after. They recruited him to leave Iowa to open stores in AZ. They sent him to other stores in California to open because of his expertise. The younger store managers had no clue how to do anything. Then, something happen. The promises of raises were now avoided. Store managers looked to his efficiency as deficient. They started making up things wrong with his area because they had to make a choice of who to keep when they started combining departments. The ETL, who was the store favorite, would have the better chance of running the departments if they could knock my brother-in-law out by bogus write-ups. Well, the ETL that was the store manager's favorite, was arrested for trying to force himself on an employee and was subsequently fired. So my brother-in-law was the ETL who ran, what was 3 departments turned into one. He did so with ease and almost all of his team members were devoted to making his area the best.
But alas, a new store manager, young and dumb, fired my brother-in-law. Why? Because he could. Most of the team members, the ones most productive, left because of what happened to my brother-in-law. The area, from reports, hasn't had a good rating since he left. Karma is a good thing.
My hope and dream is that one day, someone is successful at finally making Target own up to their practices. But, it is a hard avenue to cross. They are guilty of age-discrimination.

I am very interested in talking to any of you who may have legal questions about your rights regarding age discrimination. Or if you are willing to share your story with me to assist my current clients in their fight against Target, I would love to talk. Please let me know.

i know of this situation and it is happening more and more and our store..actually same store your husband came from. Target has commited themselves to targeting people over 40 to get rid of them, um sounds like age discrimation. They make workplace impossible to work in and workload impossible to complete. They have a saying to be FAST, FUN and Friendly. WOW that must mean that they dont speak for weeks on end. Its really a joke but in the end we are the ones getting axed. It has happened 7 times in our store with only 4 old timers left. guess it wont be long now

I suffer every day under the same age discrimination at Target..Love the company and my co-workers, but just can't take it anymore. If you know of a class action lawsuit,please let me know.
Maxine

Jennifer wrote:

Anyone else been targeted by Target Corp because of your age? In AZ, there seems to be a movement by Target to bring in younger, much less experienced ETL's to replace top notched, near perfect performing managers who happen to be near the 55 year mark. My brother-in-law is one such victim. Not one mark against his work record. Very loyal and good to his team members. Age discrimination is the only explanation.
I loved Target.....but I will not spend another dime in their stores. What they do to employees is without conscience. I know corporate greed. I work for one of those types of companies myself. It still shocks the system when it happends to someone you care about.
I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has suffered from age discrimination from Target Corp.

Target wife wrote:

This concern has spread to NC-my husband has over 25 years management retail experience in addition to a four year college degree (now required @ Target)....now has some 25 year old female STL with NO hardlines or Logistics experience-performance coach him right out of his job. This is devastating-how can we stop this?

I have worked there over twenty years and watched it happen again and again. Just happened to the best exec we ever had.

I know the feeling folks! Targetsucks has a list of lawsuits pending on various topics. Age is at the top of my list.

I have seen what Target has done to many workers over the age of 50. It's disgusting. They portray themselves as such a wonderful company and a great place to work and then they screw people over to hire people that are younger and much less experienced. What hypocrisy!!

Moody_Blues_Forever wrote:

I have seen what Target has done to many workers over the age of 50. It's disgusting. They portray themselves as such a wonderful company and a great place to work and then they screw people over to hire people that are younger and much less experienced. What hypocrisy!!

And pay them less.

Companies like Target who discriminate do so because it works to their advantage to continue such practices, and it is worth the money they will pay out in attorney fees and settlement charges to keep you silent and your complaints out of court. There will always be someone to replace you. This practice will not change until they find it is more lucrative for them to stop paying out claims.

While posting your comments may give temporary respite for the wrong done,it does little to compensate you for the loss of your job, wages, and dignity. If you have been discriminated against, a better recourse would be to file a formal complaint and find an attorney who will take your case on contingency.

Why on contingency? You will not have to pay hefty legal fees. You may have to pay a small amount out of pocket for expenses (perhaps a $1,000) but all other attorney fees will be paid by Target when and if your case is settled, even if it does not go to court. Your attorney does not get paid if he/she does not reach a settlement.

What will it cost you to file a complaint? Your time and effort. Yes, it is an inconvenience to prepare the documentation and file your complaints with the Dept of Human Rights or EEOC. But you have already been inconvenienced and have nothing to show for it. And while a settlement may not be substantial, at least it will be some compensation for your time and loss. And you will have sent a message to the company who has wronged you that you will not tolerate being taken advantage of. You have nothing to lose!

Documentation is important here. If you are still working for the company, document every action taken that is discriminatory. Read the law so you are clear on what discrimination is. It is not against the law for a company to treat you poorly. It IS a violation of the law for you to be denied employment or promotion opportunities, or equal pay just because you are over 40 years old. For example, if Target's selection of candidates for Executive Team Lead training offers this opportunity only to individuals in their 20's who are fresh out of college, does this practice discriminate against all other potential candidates who are not in their 20's or attending college? These are things that can be discussed with your attorney when you decide to file.

Timing is also a factor. You cannot file a court complaint on discrimination unless you have first filed a complaint with the Dept of Human Rights or the EEOC. And you have a limited amount of time to do this, so you must promptly report any violation of your rights to either of these agencies.(I believe you only have one or two months to do so). So don't procrastinate

Finally, unless you are an attorney or have equivalent knowlege, you probably can't interpret the law as good as you think you can. Get a professional to represent you - tell them what you know and let them do their job. By the way, court records are public information. If you want to know if a company has had discrimination complaints filed against them, do a computer search for this information, or visit the clerk of the county co9urt to find out who is being sued and why.

I truly hope some of you will consider fighting back in a way that may pay off for you.

Great answer!

I believe Target is discriminating against myself and a other TLs. I am filing a complaint with the EEOC. Has anyone else filed a complaint with them?

I believe Target is discriminating against myself and a other TLs. I am filing a complaint with the EEOC. Has anyone else filed a complaint with them?

Just go in with lots of documentation. You have to prove blatant examples of discrimination. Write down any comments you heard from anyone who made any discriminatory comments. I know it sounds tough, but that is what they are looking for.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. I would love someone to nail them.

Jennifer wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes. I started this particular forum, about Target's age discrimination, because my brother-in-law was fired by Target. I want to know how many people have been "targeted" by Target. I doesn't matter to me the level of employment or education.

I was targeted by Target..all of sudden they started to write me up for performance that happened a year ago. I was pulled in the office and told on this date I did not meet standards...I could not remember the day. I was then told I was to write up team members every day to get rid of people. I have been at the company 13 years which is a goal, because they get rid of you sooner. Take a look at there company news to use and you look at anniversaries they do not have many listed after 10 years. They start to replace you..I had a great review and then they started to write me up and this was going on with anyone who was at the store for over 10 years..there ususal they went to look for better employment.There is more that I have..

Leonard wrote:

I am very interested in talking to any of you who may have legal questions about your rights regarding age discrimination. Or if you are willing to share your story with me to assist my current clients in their fight against Target, I would love to talk. Please let me know.

I would like to talk to you. I am a victim too.

The best thing you can do is go to your nearest US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Office and file a charge of discrimination based on age, can do it as soon as possible. No need to pay a lawyer at that point. Sometimes the EEOC will litigate on your behalf especially if a class is involved. This costs you nothing. I have found many lawyers don't know what they are doing where discrimination in involved. You have to go through the EEOC anyway. No need to pay a lawyer to draft your charge. They do that for you at the EEOC. Check out www.eeoc.gov you can also send your compliaint in electronically and they will interview you over the phone if you live far away from an office.

Great info!

Leonard wrote:

I have handled a number of age discrimination cases against Target including a class action. I have some cases currently pending. Please let me know if you would like to discuss your time at Target with me.

Are there any cases in Minnesota currently open? After 32 years (at age 51) my husband is on his way out as well

I think they are guilty of much more then age discrimination, I work flow for a Target, male over 40 and I find it funny that there are weeks I have to throw all 3 trucks our store gets while guys in their 20s and 30s dont throw any. I once asked why this is and was told "you are a flow team member, as such you are required to do ALL phases of the flow team job and meet the goal times", funny in my almost 4 yrs on the team NO female "flow team" member has thrown a single truck. Just curious if the "all flow team members" part of that statement means all or just the ones they like to take advantage of.

Man i love this site I have sooo many great Target stories and issues to share lol.

Leonard wrote:

I have handled a number of age discrimination cases against Target including a class action. I have some cases currently pending. Please let me know if you would like to discuss your time at Target with me.

Leonard email me at sssp923@yahoo.com I would like to talk to you.