Target's New Policy Sparks Outrage Over Mandatory Smiles: "Nothing Says Corporate Joy Like a Forced Greeting"
A recent initiative by retail giant Target has left employees and customers alike scratching their heads. The company's new program, dubbed 10-4, is forcing staff to engage with customers in a more overtly friendly manner, including smiling, making eye contact, waving, and using "friendly, approachable, and welcoming" body language.
Employees within 10 feet of a customer are now required to greet them personally and initiate a warm interaction, while those within four feet must do the same. The idea behind the program is to elevate the shopping experience for patrons and make them feel truly appreciated, but many have taken to social media to express their discontent.
"It's just so forced," said one Reddit user who claims to be a Target employee. "Who the f--k is waving at guests? I would find that creepy." Another worker joked that the person responsible for implementing the policy must be an alien and should be investigated by US authorities.
Customers have also taken to sharing their outrage on social media, with many expressing their desire to be left alone while shopping. "I give you permission to not look at me and smile," one user wrote. Others have quipped about maintaining a safe distance from employees, saying they'll stay 11 feet away if that's what it takes.
While Target's new policy is similar to those implemented by other major retailers like Walmart and Disney, which also require employees to make eye contact with customers at certain distances, the company's approach has struck a chord of annoyance among staff and patrons alike. As one worker put it, "Nothing says corporate joy like a mandatory smile – let alone a full-on greeting."
A recent initiative by retail giant Target has left employees and customers alike scratching their heads. The company's new program, dubbed 10-4, is forcing staff to engage with customers in a more overtly friendly manner, including smiling, making eye contact, waving, and using "friendly, approachable, and welcoming" body language.
Employees within 10 feet of a customer are now required to greet them personally and initiate a warm interaction, while those within four feet must do the same. The idea behind the program is to elevate the shopping experience for patrons and make them feel truly appreciated, but many have taken to social media to express their discontent.
"It's just so forced," said one Reddit user who claims to be a Target employee. "Who the f--k is waving at guests? I would find that creepy." Another worker joked that the person responsible for implementing the policy must be an alien and should be investigated by US authorities.
Customers have also taken to sharing their outrage on social media, with many expressing their desire to be left alone while shopping. "I give you permission to not look at me and smile," one user wrote. Others have quipped about maintaining a safe distance from employees, saying they'll stay 11 feet away if that's what it takes.
While Target's new policy is similar to those implemented by other major retailers like Walmart and Disney, which also require employees to make eye contact with customers at certain distances, the company's approach has struck a chord of annoyance among staff and patrons alike. As one worker put it, "Nothing says corporate joy like a mandatory smile – let alone a full-on greeting."
I feel you guys 
...I mean, who wants to be forced into smiling at strangers? 
It's all about personal space, right? And I can totally see how waving at people from 10 feet away would be creepy 
. I'd rather shop alone than have some employee staring at me with a fake smile 
. What's next, mandatory hugs and high-fives? 
Target needs to rethink this policy ASAP 
. Like, what's the real motive behind making employees wave at customers? Is it really about creating a better shopping experience or is it something more sinister? I mean, think about it - we're already bombarded with advertisements and propaganda everywhere we go, so why do they need to make us physically greet each other in stores too?
. That's just creepy. It's like they're trying to monitor our every move and dictate how we interact with each other. I swear, it's all about control. They want to know exactly what we're thinking and feeling, so they can tailor their marketing strategies accordingly.
. I get it, Target wants to create a good shopping experience for their customers, but do they really need to force employees to be super friendly and make them feel uncomfortable? 
. And what's with the body language thingy? Can't they just chill? 
It's like, we're not in a sales pitch, you know? Just sell us our stuff already! 
i get that they wanna make customers happy but come on can't they just leave us alone 
... anyway, I hope they reconsider their approach before more people freak out on social media 
. Can't they just leave us alone and let us work our jobs without all this extra stress? I'd take a chill pill and be done with it 
. Newsflash: it's not gonna work! People will still find ways to avoid eye contact and pretend to be interested in the products...and honestly, who can blame 'em? 
. Maybe instead of trying to force smiles, Target could focus on making shopping more convenient and comfortable for everyone? 
. and what's up with the 10ft and 4ft rule? it's just weird 
. Like, I get that they want to make customers happy, but do they really need to be forced into fake smiles and awkward hellos? It's just so draining 
. And can you blame them if they think it's creepy when coworkers are waving at them? 
.
it just feels so... forced