Dec. 22, 2010

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal  

Target Uses Social Workers in Urban Stores

Target Corp. has turned to hiring on-site resources such as counselors to help reduce absenteeism and turnover among workers in its urban stores, according to a recent Los Angeles Times report.

The LA Times story writes about the work of Saundra Edwards. Target contracted with Chicago-based ComPsych to bring Edwards into its Compton, Calif., store, which opened three years ago. Edwards helps the store’s workers deal with financial and family problems — and stay employed.

The Compton store was Target’s second to use a social worker. Target now has them at about 70 of its more than 1,700 locations. Target may soon use even more, as it engages in a strategy of opening more urban stores across the country.