Target is starting to track employees’ unexcused lateness and absences with a points system—and if they rack up 12, they’re fired

The post-pandemic days of coffee badging and logging in from the couch may be coming to an end. More employers have been rolling out novel ways to keep tabs on workers’ whereabouts. And now, retail giant Target is doubling down on its attendance policy with a new points system. Starting this September, Target will begin tracking the unexcused tardiness and absences of its store and warehouse workers with a new points system, according to Business Insider reporting confirmed by the company. Staffers’ attendance violations will be tallied up and addressed accordingly: a quarter of a point for being more than eight minutes late to work, one point for missing a shift without their manager’s approval, and three points for skipping on work without telling their boss. The attendance strikes expire every 365 days. And the higher the number climbs, the more serious the consequences become. If staffers rack up three points, they’ll have to check-in with their supervisor; after five, counseling is on the table. And ultimately, if employees hit the threshold of 12 points, they’ll be shown the door. New CEO, new rules after lackluster sales Target’s attendance system comes as its new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, looks to better store operations and create a better experience for shoppers. Right now, the company is “focused on returning to growth, and elevating our guest experience is a key strategic priority,” a Target spokesperson told Business Insider. Fiddelke was appointed to CEO of the retail chain at the start of February this year after working his way up through the company for two decades, starting as an intern back in 2003. And his ascension to the top role came at a time of business struggles; right after Fiddelke became CEO, Target had reported declining comparable sales for the fourth quarter in a row, though it forecasted net sales growth of 2% for this year. In recent years, shoppers have also complained of high prices, understaffed stores, and messy, poorly-stocked ais