Target

Down 39 spots from last year’s list, retail behemoth Target weathered nine store closures in September due to “theft and organized retail crime,” which came a few months after it pulled Pride merch from its shelves following conservative customer backlash, which the company said impacted sales. At the same time, Target expanded its Target Forward strategy to offer benefits and career growth opportunities, physical and mental health support, and family support. It also expanded access to health benefits for hourly paid employees working 25 hours per week, with 20% more employees becoming eligible for the benefits. Target also told Fortune that CEO Brian Cornell frequently travels to stores and supply-chain facilities unannounced to familiarize himself with employees’ work. He meets with summer interns and hosts monthly meets with officers, which have hundreds of employees in attendance. 

The company continues to invest in increasing employee wages. In 2017, the retailer announced a path to raise its starting wage to $15 an hour, and it reached the goal in 2020. In 2022, the company set starting wages with a range of $15 to $24 an hour for hourly employees, depending on the market. 

Target’s Dream to Be program gives part- and full-time employees in the U.S. access to tuition-free bachelors’ and associate degrees and certificates from 250 programs across 40 schools. The program also provides up to $10,000 per year for master’s degrees available within its catalog. Among enrollees, turnover is 70% lower, and promotions are three times higher.

• Target sets aggressive goals for investing in diverse employees and suppliers. Between 2019 and 2021, they met or exceeded their goals, including increasing promotions of people of color by 62% and spending $1.78 billion with diverse suppliers.


• The Target Forward commitment prioritizes sustainable brands, eliminating waste, and boosting opportunity and equity.


• The company recently launched a debt-free education assistance program, offering financial aid for full-time and part-time team members at stores, supply chain facilities, and headquarter locations who are seeking degrees.


• Target covers travel costs for employees seeking abortions in another state.


• “I think it is unique that Target invites people to bring their authentic self to the workplace. I assist with the hiring process, so I have often gotten the questions like, ‘I have piercings (or tattoos or hot-pink hair),’ and I am happy to say that you don’t have to cover that up,” noted one employee. “And in more recent years, I can proudly tell people who are trans or nonbinary that they can be known and accepted by their preferred name and pronouns.”