Farewell Target

Reuters/REUTERS - Employees stock shelves at the new Target store on the eve of the store's opening in Guelph, Ontario in this March 4, 2013 file photo.

Only a year and a bit ago in 2013, Target was touting its first store openings in Canada. At the time Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel told investors he was pleased with how his workers and systems were handling the launch. But things were already going awry, said the sources, who worked at two of Target's three distribution hubs and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Target, which is due to report its quarterly financial results on May 21, 2014 has said little about what went wrong with its Canadian supply chain, but they are definitely, all, shutting down. 
The upside is that on Thursday the liquidation sales hit the stores and they will be over-run with hoards of humanity trying to get the best deals. 
The problem is Target Canada is struggling with employee defections and what one manager describes as "nasty morale" as it preps for the final sale. While it may mean great deals for the shoppers, the added workload could spell added chaos for employees and managers. Target's stores are already suffering from a surge in absentee workers and some locations are overwhelmed by the truckloads of merchandise flowing in.

U.S.-based Target announced last month that it was closing its 133 stores in Canada and laying off about 17,600 employees. The Canadian operation has received court protection from its creditors.
According to court records, the company aims to have court approval on Wednesday for a group of liquidation companies to oversee the sell-off of all store contents. When asked for an explanation for the sudden exodus, by journalists, Target USA refused to comment.
Some Target Canada workers have said they're upset because they're not getting a severance package. Target is paying most employees for at least the 16 final weeks, but they may have to work for the entire period.
"People have been calling [in sick] because there’s really a lack of motivation. You’re losing your job in a certain amount of time and there’s no severance, there’s no taking care of you," a Target Canada management employee complained. He says that some stores, including his, are already being bombarded with extra deliveries as the company clears out its warehouses.
"We are already starting to fall behind unloading deliveries. These guys are just trying to work us like dogs and sending all this freight. There’s just really nasty morale," he says.
"My people are saying, they want to go for interviews but at the end of the day, they’re so darned tired."
As the staff dwindles day by day, He doubts  the  remaining employees will be able to handle the enormous work load.
"My biggest concern and my biggest question is, even if I have a staff, do they care? And even if I can schedule them, will they show up? . “It’s going to be an emotional roller coaster. Every time we sell something, we know we’re one step closer to losing our jobs."
So, bargain hunters, I know liquidation sales are addicting and much like treasure hunts, but could we show a little compassion for the poor over-worked skeleton staff ? Hmmm? I thought not.