Target has announced that it is not going to open its doors on Thanksgiving. While this was a temporary measure during the pandemic, the company confirmed that this policy would be adopted every year so their staff could celebrate the holiday with their families.
In a statement, Target CEO Brian Cornell said that the Thanksgiving closure would become the "new standard" after receiving a lot of good feedback from the workers during his visit to outlets in New York and New Jersey. Cornell said that many of the staff came up to thank him because "they could stay home on Thanksgiving."
Target first issued the Thanksgiving closure in a January 2021 corporate memo after shifting its holiday operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cornell assured the employees that they would not have to worry about their Thanksgiving plans for 2021 since the management has decided it will not go back to the pre-pandemic sale madness during the holidays.
Other Stores Announce Thanksgiving Closures
Following Target's initiative, Walmart, Best Buys, Kohl's, and Bed Bath & Beyond have also announced the closure of all of their outlets for Thanksgiving 2021. According to People, this is the management's way of expressing their gratitude to the employees who have worked hard during a most challenging time.
Dacona Smith, the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart, said that their employees are the heroes who "have stepped up to serve" the customers and communities while most people had to stay home. Thus, they deserve to enjoy this holiday break with their loved ones.
One of America's largest operators of shopping malls, Simon's, also announced that its centers would not open for Thanksgiving, so all of its tenants will also have no operations for this holiday. However, CVS, Walgreens, Michaels, Whole Foods Market, and Kroger have stated that they will be open for specific hours only during Thanksgiving, depending on the location. Shoppers who might still need to go on a store run should check their local outlets.
Target and the other stores have also changed their holiday sale operations, particularly for the crowded Black Friday madness, apart from shutting down operations for Thanksgiving. Companies will no longer subscribe to the usual flash deals that take place on a single day. Instead, the stores will focus on week-long or month-long sale offerings.
The change in sale operations aims to spread foot traffic and minimize the shopping rush to make it safer for customers and employees alike. Workers won't also be stretched out after a tiring schedule during the holiday rush since fewer people will be in the store.
Target Applauded for its Thanksgiving Initiative
Netizens on social media praised Target for deciding to make Thanksgiving a no-work day for its employees permanently. One commenter said that the company keeps on raising the bar by also prioritizing its employees.
Another said that major shopping corporations would survive if they close for a day, and allowing their staff to spend the holiday with their families will boost their morale. Some netizens said that stores should also consider dumping Black Friday sales to temper down mass consumerism.
