Sears Supports Our Troops

Seamax ^ | 3/31/2003 | Fr. Michael Reilly

[Hugenot]

We've heard a great deal about "allies" who have not supported America and her troops, but have you heard about what Sears is doing for our troops?

The law requires employers to hold the jobs of reservist employees who are called to active duty, but people often lose their benefits and earn less with the military.

KDPQ, Today's Christian Radio, is reporting that Sears is maintaining all benefits (including medical insurance and bonus programs) and making up the difference in salary for all reservist employees for up to two years.

Sears has gone the extra mile to support our troops; wouldn't it be nice if we could get American congressmen to stop slamming them?

[KeyWest]

Hugenot signed up 2003-03-25.

Nice post. Welcome to FR

[since1868]

Is holding there job there only requirement?

[discipler]

If this is true, it makes me feel good about Sears. Way to go. I know a family who this last Friday watched their daddy head off to war. I'm a little sad for them. I'm glad that America is supporting them, that most are not like Arnette.

[The Anti-Democrat]

Believe it or not, Michelin does the same thing, at least in South Carolina. I guess it's their way or trying to cover their arses for being French.

[camle]

SEARS?!??! oh MAN!
I stopped doing business with them years ago because of their lousy service. NOW I'm gonna have to go down there and buy something.
(way to go Sears!)

[ventana]

bump. V's wife.

[Sloth]

Cool. I'm sitting at home Freeping -- instead of being at work -- because they are supposed to deliver me a new Kenmore washer and dryer this morning.

[Ignatz]

Sears: Where America shops!!

[BallandPowder]

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

Looks like Sears is going to take some business away from other companies around the BallandPowder household!

[KE]

About 2 weeks ago Neal Cavoto (Fox) or Lou Dobbs (Cnn) did a 15 minute interview with the CEO of Sears and explained everything they are doing for the servicemen and their families. They even pay their mortgages and give help with food money if needed.

Also, a few days ago Fox interviewed UPS about the same thing. They pay their servicemen/employees the difference in pay in what they would have been making, and also help the families. During the same interview Neal Cavuto talked about congress trying to pass a new law that mortgage companies cannot close on loans, or take away servicemens homes for non payment.

For 2 weeks I have been trying to find other companies that are doing this. We need to support them, buy products from them, and get the word out. Anybody else know of companies doing this?

Karen

[CSM]

Ford Motor does the same type of thing. They have had the policy since I began working here 6 years ago. It is not new as a response to the current situation, but it was instituded many years ago. I am not sure when it was instituted, but I will try to find out. An updated policy was instituted early this year. Based on the potential extended war time frame, a new policy is being considered to lengthen the time frame beyond 6 months.

Their policy states:

The Company's pay and benefit program continuation provisions have been liberalized for full-time hourly and regular salaried employees who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard and are called up for active duty in support of the U.S. attack on terrorism or military actions in Iraq. Generally, these employees may be eligible to receive pay differential and benefit continuation for up to six months or through September 30, 2003, whichever is later.

The pay differential and benefits continuation provisions are effective immediately.

[KE]

I was just reading about Ford doing this ! I found a few more small companies. If we do all this boycotting of certain companies and are making a difference, why don't we have a post on companies we should all be supporting? Did I just miss it or what. Should we start one?

Karen

[PatrioticAmerican]

Bump to Sears!

[Grampa Dave]

Fed Ex used to do great for their people called up. I had some pilot friends called up for DSI, and Fed Ex was great for them and their families.

Also, when they were released from active duty, everyone returned to their homes and went on the regular flight rotations.

[1Old Pro]

I guess I go buy more tools, any excuse is a good one!

[CSM]

KE,

I agree that we should set up a campaign supporting the companies (large and small) that support America.

Anyone,

Is there a way to add that field to the menu, or home page? Add a quick link titled "Companies that support the troops" as well as one titled "Anti American Companies".

[Coop]

Sears: Where America shops!!

Where else?!?

Seriously, I love shopping at Sears. And this store more than many others seems to mirror my values (faith to God and country).

[ken5050]

Sears just announced that they've LOWERED the APR on the Sears credit cards of any serving American from 23% to 22.5%.....

Seriously...Sears is toast....it will follow Gimbels, Wanamakers, and others into the retailing dustbin...they've trying to sell their credit card business for $6 billion..it's worth about $1 bill..

[MighTyme]

I saw this link on supportive companies the other day and saved it. Maybe it will help?

http://www.coldfury.com/HF/index.html#anchor

[Coop]

I do hope you're wrong. And if you are correct, it won't be because of me.

[ken5050]

Sears has changed their business plan, and marketing strategy, more often than MSNBC..they can't compete with Wal-Mart...the only reason they haven't gone belly up yet is that K-Mart has to go first....

[Coop]

If you're blaming Sears' struggles on Walmart, then how do you explain JCPenney's success? Sears and JCPenney are fairly similar.

And Kmart's scheduled to emerge from bankruptcy in April. Whether it can stay out is another story.

[JavaJumpy]

You took the words right out of my mouth--you should have heard me roaring when I read your post!!

[camle]

glad I made your day. well, I need a pack of scroll saw blades anyway... I'll just HAVE to buy a toy/tool now:-)

[ken5050]

JCP has better identified, and targeted, its market..Sears doesn't know what it wants to be..do YOU know what Swears stands for, or sells?...tools, tires, or " the softer side of Sears" or appliances....and most of their stores are old, and inefficient....theyc an't compete...for years, 99% of their profits have come from the credit cards..they're in the usury business...

[Coop]

JCP has better identified, and targeted, its market.

How so?

[aShepard]

Way to go SEARS!

Maybe WalMart will pick up on this idea, and pay their folks in Chinese Won!

[AFreeBird]

stopped doing business with them years ago because of their lousy service.

I've had nothing but great service at my local Sears Hardware store.

[ken5050]

No time now...I'll send you some links to a few articles tonite...regards.....but if you're really interested...and if there is a Sears and Penney's near you...just spend a half hour in each...

[Coop]

and if there is a Sears and Penney's near you...just spend a half hour in each...

Oh, I've done more than that. I like them both very much. Sears is a little more hardware oriented, with JCPenney a bit more toward clothing and home furnishings. In my view, anyways.

[since1868]

JC Penny is doing poorley they just closed more stores, with more to come. Besides the 2 can not be compered Sears compitition is Wal Mart, Lowes and Home Depot. Penny's does not sell hardlines

[Alex Murphy]

...but have you heard about what Sears is doing for our troops?

Oh no - they're not donating 250,000 desert camo BDUs with "Garanimals" tags proudly sewn onto them, are they?

[GRRRRR]

SHOP AT SEARS!!! Bump

Don and Roma MADE a call to the Sears Media person this morning. Sears lady confirmed this has been their practice for years.

I am going to Sears CRAFTSMAN store this weekend...Let's ROLL!!! Spring time clean up tools on AISLE 3!!

GRRRRR

[trussell]

I just got my new stove about 3 weeks ago!!

[Coop]

I guess we read different reports. JCPenney's has been reporting good profits recently. Perhaps the store closings were a conscious decision to improve profitability. And Sears and JCPenney's can indeed be compared. Walk through both and tell me they don't share a lot of similarities.

[since1868]

Perhaps there sales are up. good for them, hate to see another 100 year old comp. fail
As far as comparing the 2 I work foe Sears we are much more into appliences, tools, tractors. We also services all our goods plus repair other goods not purchased at Sears. Unlike Pennys we no longer have a cataloge division.
So at first sight it may seem similar, they are much different.

[Coop]

My earlier comment.

Sears is a little more hardware oriented, with JCPenney a bit more toward clothing and home furnishings.

[JCG]

Claim: Sears pays the difference in salaries and maintains benefits for their called-up reservist employees.

Status: True.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]

I HOPE you have all seen the reports about how Sears is treating its reservist employees who are called up? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up.

Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution.

I suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves.

Pass it on.

Origins: Although many employers look favorably on military service and even encourage it, there are some who find it burdensome to have an employee who spends time away from the job. Military reservists pose a particular challenge to employers because they're subject to recall to active duty at any time -- call-ups to active service during times of war may not occur often, but active duty recalls can occur even during peacetime, and nearly every reservist has to take occasional leave from his regular job for monthly drills and annual training.

In order to provide a measure of employment security to reservists subject to active duty recall and minimize the disadvantages that occur when reservists need to be absent from their civilian employment to serve in the uniformed services, the United States enacted the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) in 1994. Codified in Chapter 43, Part III, Title 38 of the United States Code, this act mandates that "any person whose absence from a position of employment is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to reemployment rights and benefits."

Of course, reservists give up more than just their jobs when they're called up for active duty. Although the law may require that their former positions be waiting for them when they return, many reservists still have to deal with the financial hardships of the difference in pay between their civilian jobs and their military positions; as well, other job benefits they may lose out on while on active duty (such as medical insurance coverage or participation in employer bonus plans) are not guaranteed to them. Some employers voluntarily go the extra mile for their reservist employees, making up the difference between their regular pay and their military pay while they're on active duty and ensuring that all employer-sponsored benefits associated with their jobs remain in force.

Sears is indeed one of the employers who take additional steps to show support for employees involved in serving their country by guaranteeing the continuance of their civilian pay and benefits. Many other companies -- large and small -- do the same for their workers, but as one of the nation's oldest and largest employers, Sears gets the publicity for setting a prominent example.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

(Good folks over at Sears -- shop early, shop often!)

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://video.ire.org/10650.ram (Requires RealPlayer)

Who is Steve Emerson?