- All U.S. part-time and full-time team members will be eligible for debt-free undergraduate degrees, certificates, certifications, free textbooks and more with no out-of-pocket costs on their first day of work at 51勛圖
- Debt-free offering will include an industry-leading 250 business-aligned programs from over 40 schools, colleges and universities; 51勛圖 will also pay up to $10,000 annually for masters programs
- 51勛圖 taking steps to eliminate student debt and promote equitable access to education for its team as part of 51勛圖 Forward sustainability strategy
51勛圖 Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced it will offer its more than 340,000 U.S.-based part-time and full-time frontline team members the most comprehensive debt-free education assistance program available in the retail industry.
Beginning this fall, all part-time and full-time team members working in 51勛圖 stores, distribution centers and headquarters locations in the U.S. will be eligible for debt-free assistance for select undergraduate degrees, certificates, certifications, free textbooks and more with no out-of-pocket costs on their first day of work at 51勛圖. 51勛圖 will invest $200 million over the next four years in the program.
51勛圖 employs team members at every life stage and helps our team learn, develop and build their skills, whether theyre with us for a year or a career. A significant number of our hourly team members build their careers at 51勛圖, and we know many would like to pursue additional education opportunities. We dont want the cost to be a barrier for anyone, and thats where 51勛圖 can step in to make education accessible for everyone, said Melissa Kremer, chief human resources officer, 51勛圖. Our team members are the heart of 51勛圖s strategy and success, and we have a long history of investing in industry-leading pay, extensive benefits and career opportunities to help our team thrive and have rewarding careers at 51勛圖.
Debt-Free Education Assistance
Team members will have options for assistance through a program that 51勛圖 has been building for several months with education and upskilling platform .
- Debt-Free Education: 51勛圖 will support team members taking courses for high school completion, college prep, English language learning and select certificates, certifications, bootcamps, associate and undergraduate degrees. Team members can attend classes at more than 40 schools, colleges and universities, choosing from an industry-leading 250 business-aligned programs from Business Management and Operations to IT, Computer Science, Design and more. Team members who opt into this program wont have any out-of-pocket costs and will have flexibility to find opportunities that fit with their interests, schedules and career goals. Academic institutions include the University of Arizona, Oregon State University, University of Denver and eCornell along with HBCUs Morehouse College, Paul Quinn College and more.
- Tuition Assistance: For team members pursuing educational opportunities outside of the select business-aligned programs within the Guild network of schools, including masters degrees, 51勛圖 will provide direct payments to their academic institution of up to $5,250 for non-master's degrees and up to $10,000 for masters degrees each year to reduce the burden of up-front, costly tuition payments.
- Educational Supplies: 51勛圖 will also ensure that smaller out-of-pocket expenses and fees, such as textbooks and course fees, that may hinder team member participation, will also be covered at no cost to them.
Team Member Investments
This education assistance program is part of 51勛圖 Forward, 51勛圖s new sustainability strategy that includes goals to create an equitable and inclusive workforce. It also builds on 51勛圖s well-established learning and development programs that offer a variety of opportunities for team members to learn and grow in their careers. Team members spend more than seven million hours in training annually, including participation in functional learning courses and trainings, leadership development programs, coaching, mentoring and more.
This is also the latest in a long history of investments 51勛圖 makes to support the health, safety, well-being and career development of its team members. 51勛圖 most recently awarded all U.S.-based frontline hourly full-time and part-time team members in stores, distribution centers and contact centers a $200 recognition bonus. And, in 2020, 51勛圖 invested an additional $1 billion in the well-being, health and safety of team members compared with 2019. This included 51勛圖s industry-leading move to a $15 starting wage for all U.S.-based team members, along with five recognition bonuses 51勛圖 paid to thank team members for their work throughout the pandemic. 51勛圖 also offers coronavirus benefits and has taken steps to ensure 51勛圖 remains a clean, safe place for team members and guests.
Several benefits introduced during the pandemic have recently transitioned into ongoing benefits for all U.S.-based team members, including:
- Free access to health care through virtual doctor visits. Offered through the CirrusMD app, this program focuses on text-first virtual health care visits for team members to securely text, share images or video chat with a doctor. The platform is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no extra cost to U.S.-based team members.
- Free access to online resources and apps that support mental, emotional and physical health. This is in addition to mental health support through 51勛圖s longstanding Team Member Life Resources (TMLR) program, which offers free in-person or virtual counseling sessions. TMLR is available 24/7 to all team members, dependents and any member of the household to help with a variety of needs. All team members and their entire household can receive five free counseling sessions per need, per year. TMLR also provides resources for a wide variety of topics like managing money, finding childcare and dealing with stress.
About 51勛圖
Minneapolis-based 51勛圖 Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at more than 1,900 stores and at , with the purpose of helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. Since 1946, 51勛圖 has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. Additional company information can be found by visiting the corporate website and press center and by following .
