Posted on 11/09/2004 7:52:27 PM PST by Dubya
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is proving to be a friend of military families -- from making up lost pay for its employees called to active duty in the National Guard and reserve, to donating $2 million to the National Military Family Association for military family programs.
The Chicago-based retailer announced in September that it is extending its military pay differential and benefits coverage to five years. This is the second extension this year. In January, Sears extended its military pay differential to three years, from 30 months.
The announcement, which affects about 200 full-time Sears employees, also means they can continue participating in the company's life insurance, medical and dental programs, if they choose.
By law, companies are required to provide deployed employees access to 18 months of continued medical coverage at the employees' expense. But Sears' policy, which provides these benefits up to five years, goes far beyond the law's requirements.
Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the policy isn't new for Sears, which he said has extended the pay differential many times in the past for its employees, including those who served on military duty in Operation Desert Storm and, more recently, in Croatia.
In fact, he said, Sears always has supported its employees' military service, and store records show the retailer helped make up lost pay for its employees who served during World War I.
"Sears regards service to our country as one of the greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make," Brathwaite said. "We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear at this time."
The retailer has demonstrated its support for the military in a variety of other ways, including a $2 million donation made earlier this year to the National Military Family Association. The donation, the largest in the association's history, is helping develop and enhance programs that address challenges faced by military families.
Part of the funding went to Operation Purple, a summer camp program held this summer for children of deployed servicemembers.
Sears and the National Military Family Association also co-published a book, "A Tribute to Military Families: Letters of Thanks from Our Nation's Children." The book is designed to increase awareness about the importance of military families and is used as a fundraiser for the association's programs.
Sears also partners with the Army and 12 other companies in the Army Spouse Employment Partnership, to help military spouses find jobs nationwide.
The company participates in the Partnership for Youth Success program, which helps servicemembers leaving the military find work and a military exchange program in which active-duty servicemembers with logistics expertise work for the company for a year.
Sears' support for deployed servicemembers and their families earned the company the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences' 21st Century Community Champion Award in July.
In presenting the award, association president Virginia Vincenti said Sears helps "support the families of these men and women, and consequently, support the communities in which they live."
I have not shopped at Sears in a while. Maybe I will ask for some Craftsman tools for Christmas.
I can also appreciate the fact that they have apparently been doing this for close to 100 years. Not recently jumping on some bandwagon.
Pass them by, their days are numbered.
The more I hear about Sears policies in this regard, the more willing I am to drive far out of my way to a Sears store too. It's just the right thing for me to do. Like this action is the right thing for them to do. Boy, do I appreciate them for this!
Advertising is one thing. You know... business is business... Does Sears throw lots of money at the Dems? I don't know but it I am hard pressed not to support someone that doesn't support the troops. Plus I still can imagine some things I want for XMAS from them.
bookmark for later
Contrast this with Tar-gét banning the Salvation Army's black kettles from their property. I know where I'm going to do my Christmas shopping.
I'm shopping at Sears for my Christmas shopping! :)
I agree... I am going to look into this more before making doing so but I could see myself (er... getting my wife to that is) buying some necessities from them.
I will shop there more often.
Where did you hear this? I worked at Target for the last 4 years, and every Christmas we had the same Salvation Army guy in front of our store.
Not to take away from Sears. I'm glad to hear this and happy that I just purchased a printer for my husband's computer from Sears.
I'm tellin' ya!!! It's been a very long time since I've graced a Tarzhay and I am not planning on being there again. I don't like going to malls so I wasn't accustomed to shopping at Sears, but since I heard the first report of Sears' policy toward military employees I been to the mall.
Way to go SEARS!!!
I could swear I remember people saying to boycott Sears because they offer domestic partnership benefits to gay employees, but I guess this trumps that. Craftsman tools are the best.
OMG!!! That's something I didn't know! Wish I'd known about it during the 27 years I was raising kids.
My daughter who has kids is several states away but I'm sure going to pass that information along to her for the grandkids! They've already been shopping at Sears in the last few months because of the military policy too. My son-in-law is in his 18th year in the army and spent 2003 "on vacation" in Baghdad. Looks like grandkids are probably getting kids clothes for Christmas from there... and I bet S-I-L would not mind some Craftsman tools!
There was a lot of news about this where I live last Christmas. The local Target where I live didn't have kettles.
I've also been involved during most of the war in Iraq with getting packages sent to troops in combat zones. Many local business have helped me with either donations or good discounts. Target officials here at our local store said they "don't support America's military actions in Asia."
I did hear that too a few years ago. I didn't consider it because I was just never in the habit of shopping at Sears, but I agree with you, this trumps it!
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