The following is a posting of my "field notes" from my first day at Target. This post is longer than usual because it was written for my own viewing. In most respects, this post is a longer version of the "Day One" post. In the interest of giving you as much inside information as possible, I wanted to share it with you. I hope you enjoy



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I finally began my tour of duty at Target today. This day arrived almost two months after I was hired – April 19.



I went through a three-hour orientation Wednesday, June 9. For the most part, the orientation covered paperwork and safety rules. I noticed that the orientation skipped over important information like benefits and paydays.



I was told at the orientation to call after 4:00 pm Friday, June 11 for my schedule. I called at 4:30, but the schedule was not available yet. I called back around 6:00 pm and was told that I am scheduled to work Monday June 14 from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm. I asked the operator what do I do when I get there. She told me that someone would be there to show me around. I forgot to ask her what department I would be working in (information not made clear to me before). She told me, “Inventory.” I needed more information and called William, the supervisor who hired me the next day. He was out until Monday, so I made sure to call him earlier in the morning to get some information. He told me to have the operator page him when I get there and he would show me around.



I got there right at 12:00 pm (I had hoped to get there earlier, but did not make the first impression as an early-bird). The operator, Yesenia, showed me how to clock in and paged William. She then introduced me to Jose and Matthew, two guys working in my department. Jose is Latino and Matthew is Black. They seemed be jovial with each other. While I waited for William to arrive, I noticed the wall with timesheets for the week. I was happy to see my name on the sheet, but upset that I was only scheduled for today. A total of 6.25 hours for the week.



I waited for a few minutes, but was getting antsy. I saw William working on “the floor,” but I did not want to bother him thinking he was on his way. Finally, I went out to the floor to let him know I was there. He told me a little about what he was doing and what I would be doing. He said that it was not very difficult work; we just have to be quick.



He said that Matthew would be showing me around. As we talked, Matthew and Jose walked by pushing carts. They were moving carts from the stock room to the front of the store. William then told me to go with them and let them show me around. While we walked and talked, I asked Jose how long has he been working at Target (my question of the day for most people I spoke with)? He said that he’s been there for nine years. Three at this store. He’s moving to a store in Fullerton soon (he lives in East L.A.). After we dropped off the carts, Jose took me to the back room (stockroom). He then introduced me to Sylvia and Orlando who both showed me how to scan incoming inventory. Orlando and Sylvia told me to get a scanner – the heart and soul of the stockroom. We must input our employee number in the scanner and use that scanner for most of our tasks.



Inventorying products entails scanning products that have been delivered to the store than sorting them on the shelf. The process can be tedious, and it seems like a SNAFU to me at the moment.



We first pull an item from the box, and then we scan it. The scanner will tell us either: (1) the item should be placed in a certain space or (2) the item has not been found. For (1), this means an item has been scanned already and other like items should be placed with it. If the item has not yet be scanned (2), we are then to place the item in the appropriate section. In (2), we must scan the space where the item is placed to let others know where the item can be found for CAF’ing. Sylvia, Orlando, and I worked on scanning until 1:00 when CAF’ing time started.



Orlando pulled me off scanning to help out with CAF’ing. Sylvia and the other women working on scanning stayed on scanning. I assume this gender segregation is based on the large amount of lifting involved in CAF’ing (essentially pulling items, at times large boxes, off the shelves). Orlando and I were joined by Eric and Donald in CAF’ing. Orlando showed me the CAF’ing procedure and then I was off on my own.



It seemed like scanning is the duty done in the backroom for most of the day. I found out later that most men are involved in CAF’ing. CAF’ing is the procedure of pulling items from the stockroom to prepare them to be put on the store floor. Items pulled are based on the sales throughout the day.



The CAF captain gets a computer printout listing departments. Each department section has information on the number of items needed to be pulled and the approximate time it takes to pull the items. This time “limit” is followed very strictly by the employees. Essentially, we take a department and pull the items (Orlando lays claim to his section – CHEMICALS). The scanner tells us which section to go to. We then scan each item in that section until we get a hit. The scanner then tells us how many of those items are needed. This rule is not hard and fast. I messed up for a bit. Orlando told me that when I put in the quantity on the shelf, to put in that number, the letter “x,” then enter. Well, it turns out that “x” is only entered when the product has been “exhausted” in that space. If there’s any leftover after the quantity is reached, we just hit the number and enter.



CAF’ing really made the day go by quickly. I was surprised at how much physical labor is involved. I was frequently up and down ladders. Although the safety video during orientation showed us specific ways to retrieve boxes from high shelves, that rule was NEVER followed. I was left to get boxes from high above. Some were bulky (boxes with 12 pillows) and some were heavy (detergent boxes). For the most part, we are CAF’ing a particular department on our own, so getting someone for help will slow the process. I frequently asked for help, but got better at doing it on my own as the day went by.



Matthew, who I met at the beginning of the day, seemed to be doing his own thing. I did not see him CAF’s with the rest the crew. I often saw him “chillin” with other employees in the stockroom, talking basketball, women, or some other “barbershop” conversation.



The men of the stockroom all took breaks and lunches at the same time.



The stockroom seems like the “backstage” area of Target. The men often engage in hyper-masculine talk. There were times when I first thought two people were actually arguing to later find they were doing a newer version of “the dozens.”



One employee asked me if I was from the Caribbean (a frequent question in life). He then asked me how did I get a name like, “Carlos.” I told him my dad likes Spanish names and that I am all Black. “I’m all Black. All nigga.” I think that was my way of trying to fit in. He said, “Cool.” I then mentioned that my brother’s name is Ricardo. Matthew then asked me if he works at another Target. I said, “No.” They then realized that it was another Carlos, not a Ricardo, they were thinking of, and his nickname is Sprinkles. They then told me to never take the nickname of Sprinkles. It was implied that they think Carlos aka Sprinkles is gay. I then told them to call me Carlos or C Los. They then mentioned other names like C-Dog.



After my mandatory meal break, I came back to the stockroom to find Matthew, Mark, and two other Black men standing around talking basketball. I did not know what to do next, and did not want to interrupt Matthew, so I stood there listening. Eric then walked by and I soon followed suit. Orlando and Donald soon arrived and the four of us returned to CAF’ing (new batches).



Finally, the end of the day neared. It was 6:47 pm and I got off at 7:00. Orlando and I both got off at 7:00, while Donald and Eric got off at 7:30. Orlando said that it was time for a break, and the four of us took a break. We went to the break room. Actually, I went and they passed through. I followed them and saw them hanging in the café area. The four of us sat and chilled. As 7:00 arrived, was about to leave when Don came around and asked me for help. He asked me if I was off, and I replied, “Yes.” He then told me never mind. I told him that it was cool and I was available. He then asked me to help someone gather carts – the one task I hoped I never would be doing. But, I was happy to oblige. During the cart-gathering process, I found out Dan is the manager. Good thing I was so agreeable.

