Seasonal Hiring Collapses at Some Target Stores, Staff Face Strain

Employees on Reddit reported that some Target stores were operating with far fewer seasonal workers than expected as the holiday period intensified. A thread on r/Target dated November 25, 2025 collected multiple firsthand accounts from current and former team members describing very small orientation sessions, low post onboarding show rates, and a heavy attrition of seasonal staff. One poster estimated about 80 percent of seasonal hires at their location had already quit.

Those accounts described immediate operational consequences on the sales floor and backroom. Workers said fewer people were available to cover routine store tasks during the busiest weeks of the year, while career and hourly team members faced increased pressure to pick up shifts through the company s on demand system. The posts and responses conveyed frustration and strain among existing staff as they absorbed additional responsibilities to keep shelves stocked, registers open, and online orders moving.

The Reddit thread is anecdotal and localized by design, but it reflects persistent challenges that many retailers have been reporting in 2025 as they attempt to staff holiday work. For employees, the effects include heavier workloads, more frequent shift changes, and potential morale declines as temporary staffing fails to materialize. For stores, reduced seasonal coverage can mean slower service, longer lines, and greater reliance on scheduling tools to fill gaps at short notice.

Target has been running one of the largest seasonal hiring efforts in retail, and localized pockets of high turnover illustrate how staffing shortfalls can ripple through teams. The accounts underscore the tension between workforce planning and the realities of recruiting and retaining short term hires during a high demand period. As the holiday season continues, workers and managers at affected locations will likely confront ongoing operational trade offs and strain until staffing stabilizes.