10-4, good buddy...

[samhexum]

Target workers now must follow official guidelines on how to interact with customers. The new guidelines encourage them to be more welcoming to in-store guests.

While Target has long encouraged employees to be friendly, which is the norm in the retail world, the new guidelines are much more specific than in the past.

Bloomberg News reported that the policy is known as the “10-4” rule because of what it requires. Specifically, under Target’s new 10-4 policy:

If customers are within 10 feet of a worker, the worker must make eye contact, smile, and say hello.

If customers come within four feet of a worker, the worker must either ask if they need help or check in to see how their day is going.

The policy is reportedly similar to one that Walmart has had in place for a long time, which requires employees to make eye contact if a customer comes within 10 feet. However, it goes a few steps further in its requirements.

 

In the r/Target subreddit, the announcement was greeted with a lot of skepticism about whether it would have a positive impact.

One Reddit poster commented, “Good luck greeting people who don’t even want to talk to you.”