Target Corp. continues to implement return-to-office requirements for swaths of headquarters employees in downtown Minneapolis while avoiding a companywide mandate.

Multiple divisions have been notified by managers in recent days and weeks that they'll be expected to work at the office soon, according to several current Target employees.

The number of days required vary by work group but some must be in the office multiple days a week. Start dates also vary by division with some already in regularly while others will be expected to report in person later this month. Other groups have until September before their mandates begin.

Downtown observers and boosters pay close attention to the status of Target's workforce, for both its visibility and size. At the end of 2024, Target was the second-largest downtown employer with 7,100 employees designated as reporting to headquarters.

Target said its corporate policy has not changed. Besides five mandated in-office weeks, the company lets work groups decide if they should work in the office.

"Team members tell us they see the benefit from the in-person connection and collaboration that's a part of being in the office," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "At this point, individual leaders are empowered to make decisions for their teams based on company guidance as well as what's best for the role they play in our business."

Adam Duininck, president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, said parking revenue and other metrics show that more workers are coming into the office, and he has noticed that Target employees are part of that trend.

"This was the first Monday I felt like it was busy everywhere, from my lunch spot to parking, it felt like people were returning to downtown in full force."

Several Twin Cities corporations have called employees back to the office, including Ameriprise in downtown Minneapolis, which requires three in-office days a week. Employers outside the downtown core are also upping the return-to-office requirements, such as Medtronic. Both companies will require four days in office starting Sept. 2.

General Mills had also implemented a looser "Work With Heart" policy coming out of the pandemic that gave individual leaders the power to choose when and how often their hybrid teams were asked to come into the office.

This past February, however, General Mills tightened up the requirements by recalling workers in its largest unit — North American retail — every Tuesday through Thursday, including many at the Golden Valley headquarters campus.

Walmart and other major retailers have already made adjustments to their in-office mandates.

Earlier this year, Walmart unveiled a new headquarters campus in Bentonville, Ark. Some office-based employees have been asked to relocate to the new headquarters, as well as its office in Sunnyvale, Calif.

The moves, which began last year, are part of Walmart's broader relocation strategy meant to consolidate corporate operations and enhance in-person collaboration.

Costco has adopted similar changes in policy. Technology employees have been required to work in-office three days a week since January. Other corporate employees have similar requirements.

Amazon also implemented a five-day return-to-office policy in early January for its corporate employees. The company previously allowed for a three-day-a-week hybrid policy.

Best Buy requires its headquarters workers to be in the office Tuesday through Thursday.

Bill Lukitsch of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.