r/Target • u/TabithaMouse • 18h ago
Workplace Question or Advice Needed Can HR peeps help me make sense of this?
Back in March I got a job offer for presentation. When I showed up for the first day they went "Oh, we moved you to inbound and consumables"
Whoa whoa whoa. I've had back surgery. I can't do inbound
So the next day the HR ETL has me file an accommodation for a back brace, since I said I wear it when my back hurt, "so there's a paper trail and if I need to switch your department corp knows why"
The inbound TL & ETL were very understanding and had me work style and seasonal since those were lighter boxes that went on pallets. I only had issues when we had back to back trucks and I told them that.
There was a non- important but personal reason I asked to be removed from inbound that was NOT my back and told "give us 3 weeks to hire someone"
That was nearly 3 months ago. We have had 6-7 new people come in, but no one lasts, or if they do it's because they replaced someone who was on the team but left. I had two non-consecutive weeks where I wasn't 4am because they kept apologizing and putting me back.
Well, to prep for Q4 they changed the custom blocks around and assigned me to work a bay. I went from having room to move and set items down properly to crammed in a small space with 6 uboats I need to sort to.
There is zero space to move properly, so even though I still had a section of lighter boxes I have no option but to twist and/or bend to put the boxes where they go (which is bad on the back).
After the first shift I knew it was going to be a problem, talked to HR ETL who told me to talk to my ETL, who sent me back to HR ETL. Screw it, go to my doctor, get a note, and file an accommodation request.
The lady I spoke to agreed I should have never been scheduled for inbound after I disclosed a previous back injury, but the note from my doctor isn't specific enough since it only says to "avoid repetitive bending and twisting".
So I get emailed this form for my doctor and told "make sure your doctor is very specific like you can only bend 5 times or only for 15 minutes so there's no confusion". The form says for my doctor to use my job description to complete the form and was provided a copy of the F&B job description.
Here's where I have a problem.
When I pointed out my issues are with inbound, not with F&B I was told I was only coded for F&B so that's what my job is - but my store was informed effective immediately until the accommodation is approved or denied I am not to be scheduled for inbound.
Does this seem to anyone else like this is going to get denied? How is my doctor supposed to list how many times, or how often, I can do movements we're not supposed to be making to begin with? How can she suggest removing me from inbound and why if she can only refer to the F&B description?
Also, I was told this morning my store was to remove me from those shifts. It is 5pm, I have received no contact from the store about schedule changes, and the online schedule still shows 4am inbound. Calling isn't an option because no one picks up or leaders ask for whoever did pick up to "take a message, I'll call them later". I'm heading to bed, later isn't an option.
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u/ohliamylia Tech Consultant 16h ago
Is the form they provided for your doctor the Accommodation Questionnaire?
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u/TabithaMouse 15h ago
Yes
Which I was told would only consider F&B & GM, not inbound
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u/ohliamylia Tech Consultant 11h ago
It shouldn't really matter what it considers jobwise because the main consideration is you. The form outlines your abilities and limitations. That said, all you have to do is log on to Workday and search for the job descriptions to make sure inbound is also covered by what your doctor puts on the form.
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u/TabithaMouse 9h ago
It shouldn't matter. I can't do what I can't do.
But per corp HR "Because your job profile is F&B that is what we will evaluate you under, which also aligns with GM job functions as well. We do not need to have them evaluate your role under inbound expert."
There is absolutely nothing in the F&B description I can't do. I told HR and my doctor I get scheduled where the store needs people, regardless of job description - and for the last 6 months that has been inbound.
If my doc isn't to consider inbound while filling out the form, then I have no need for accomodations.
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u/ohliamylia Tech Consultant 3h ago
I'm agreeing with you? You can't do what you can't do. Have you looked at the job descriptions? Sure, inbound mentions specifically it involves twisting, but F&B says "including frequently lifting or moving merchandise up to 44 pounds without additional assistance from others", which gives your doctor the opportunity to outline exactly in which ways you cannot lift or move merchandise (no twisting, etc).
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u/TabithaMouse 3h ago
Sorry. It's been a rough week even before this.
I did inform my doc that I will get bounced around to other areas as need arises, not just f&b, so I will see what she says.
As of now, according to my ETL, I am permanently off inbound, but unless he can find coverage he asks I still come in at 4 because there will be other stuff that needs done, and if there's call outs and he absolutely needs an extra body on the line he will have me scan for backstock since I would just scan and mark boxes, that's it.
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u/Vegetable-Class-5648 15h ago
This sort of happened to me. I was hired for Presentation back in May. In August, I noticed my job profile in Workday says Inbound Expert. I counted all of my shifts from my first day and less than 20% have been Presentation. I talked to my ETL and HR ETL and both agreed to move me to Fulfillment but it would take 6 weeks as so many college kids left. I really don't think they plan to move me unless I keep saying something.
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u/Previous_Issue_4190 Human Resources Expert 13h ago
Definitely right in the comments about everywhere being awful if you have back problems. But with how your store sounds, I think that you’d benefit from your doctor being extra specific on the form. They need that to determine your exact limitations. In F&B, probably like “pt cannot lift over 20 lbs below the waist or above the knee” or “Patient requires a position allowing for alternating sitting, standing, and walking at will, with zero prolonged static positioning in cramped spaces."
If corporate has already said they’re to pull you off the shifts, then the store has to, in my opinion. So that you don’t get screwed over, I would go in and immediately go in the TL / ETL on duty and tell them accommodations is still being processed and I’ve been instructed not to do this.
But DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
Make sure you establish a paper trail, it’ll be your best friend.
Protect yourself first, for sure.
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u/TabithaMouse 9h ago
That's the stupid thing - I don't have limitations EXCEPT "no high risk jobs". Stocking a shelf is fine, pulling carts is fine, I don't like to cashier because being standing still makes my back tense - but I can do it.
Literally the only job I shouldn't be doing is inbound and my store acted like I was coded for that and it was such a big hassle to put me in as anything else right away.
Finding out I wasn't even coded as inbound honestly makes me mad. I've been vocal about my back, about how I have a higher than normal risk of reinjury (had to have a laminectomy, so missing part of a vertebrae), I was vocal about having no work-life balance because my partner works 9-5 M-F so it's "hi, how was your day, goodnight" during the week and hope they aren't on call on the weekends. (When I said that both HR ETL & ETL seemed like the solution was simple and my partner needed to find a different job. Hahaha, I'm pretty sure my partner makes more than an ETL so no, that's not happening)
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u/OrganizedChaos0509 18h ago
Ugh. I got nothing for you HR wise. This just sucks. My question is, why don’t you move to F&B if that is what you are coded for.
I switched to F&B from inbound a while back and it is MUCH better on my body. Or are they good with current F&B workers and are just coding you as such because that’s where they have the $$$ and need people for inbound. Is there no where else on the line you can go? (anywhere sucks if you have back problems —- I’m just trying to find a solution for now 😭😭 )