Target asks merchandising staff to return three days per week

Target notified employees on December 25, 2025 that many members of its merchandising team, including buyers, planners and sourcing staff, should be in the Downtown Minneapolis offices three days a week. The instruction represents a notable tightening of hybrid work norms for the corporate functions that support stores and inventory, even as the company said it would leave discretion to leaders to set specific expectations for their teams.

A company media relations director said leaders were empowered to make decisions for their teams based on company guidance and the needs of specific roles. The change affects staff who support seasonal planning, vendor sourcing and assortment decisions that leaders argued benefit from more in person coordination. Roughly 7,100 employees worked out of Target's downtown hub, though that number fluctuated with hires, role changes and other office assignments.

For employees the directive has immediate practical consequences. Workers face more frequent commutes, potential childcare and scheduling adjustments, and increased transportation costs for days in the office. Merchandising roles that overlap with vendors, creative teams and cross functional operations may see clearer benefits from in person collaboration, while others may question whether the additional office days yield measurable productivity gains.

The company gave managers latitude to tailor schedules to the needs of their teams, a structure that can allow flexibility but can also create uneven expectations across functions and stores. Managers who prioritize in office presence may build stronger day to day collaboration, while teams whose leaders maintain looser rules may continue remote practices more often. That variation can affect morale and retention if employees perceive rules as inconsistent or burdensome.

The move aligns with a broader re balancing of hybrid work policies in corporate America, with companies emphasizing office time for roles where leaders believe face to face interaction improves outcomes. For Target employees, the immediate question will be how teams interpret the guidance, how managers apply discretion, and how the company supports staff through the operational and personal impacts of increased office days.