My first thought is no adult should be scolding another adult in the workplace for any reason. Especially someone in the HR position you mentioned so I hope you're telling them to speak to you like a professional adult. Respect is a two way street. I have no answers for you on the payroll, but having your boss asking you to basically manipulate the metric for shareholder gains sounds kinda like fraudy, no? Like .. make these numbers appear so our stonks will get us that yacht by the end of the year is what it sounds like. As someone who breaks their back everyday and is unable to afford to live by myself all I have to say is fuck that. Do your best for YOU and unless they give you some kind of awesome bonus or raise, that's all they get. You'll do your best for THEM when they show you they'll do their best for you back. Target is all about family and family takes care of each other, right?