HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Sears Holdings Corporation reaffirmed its support for National Guard and Reserve members and their families by signing a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve at a special “Rally for Military Families” event May 26. Bruce Johnson, Sears Holdings Executive Vice President of Off-mall Business and Supply Chain, signed the Statement of Support – or SOS – on behalf of company President and CEO Lou D’Ambrosio.
“At Sears, we consider our employment of service men, women and their families an act of good business,” said D’Ambrosio. “Sears has supported military families for decades and we are honored to further extend our devotion and admiration for those hard-working individuals who are serving or who have served through our commitment and support of the National Guard and Reserve.”
At the ceremony representing Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve were National Chairman, James Rebholz; ESGR Chief of Employer Outreach, Tom Bullock; Illinois ESGR North East Area Chair, William Glynn. Representatives from the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Illinois Army National Guard’s 108th Sustainment Brigade and 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade also attended the Sears Holdings event.
“Today, supportive employers like Sears Holdings are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units. I am asking all employers to take a look at their current human resources policies to incorporate policies supportive of Guard and Reserve employees,” Rebholz told the Sears Holdings employees attending the event. “Many employers provide ‘Above and Beyond’ support to complement military coverage, such as providing pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extending health care benefits while their employees are mobilized.”
Rebholz also talked about the crucial role employers play in allowing Guardsmen and Reservists to continue to serve in uniform and thanked Sears for its culture of support for those who serve our nation in uniform.
“Sears Holdings joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces,” added Rebholz. “By signing the Statement of Support, it sends a clear message to the employees of Sears Holdings that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation’s fourth largest broadline retailer with more than 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. A longtime supporter of its military employees, families and veterans, Sears is a previous winner of the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, winning the award in 2005.
Sears Holdings currently employs nearly 1,500 Guardsmen and Reservists. In addition to its support of ESGR the company also actively looks to hire military members, their spouses and qualified veterans. Sears works in partnership with several military recruiting programs including the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces, Transition Assistance Program, Department of Defense Fellowship Program, Army Spouse Employment Partnership and Partnership for Youth Success. It has also established an Associate Military Support Network.
Sears military support goes beyond the company and its employees, however, and also extends to the community at large. Sears Holdings has:
· Raised more than $11 million and rebuilt more than 800 homes for our wounded warriors through its Heroes at Home program.
· Raised more than $16 million to assist deserving active duty military families over the holidays.
· Donated $250,000 to the USO for the holiday season.
· Awards a $50 Craftsman gift card to help defray the cost of tools for service members who join the construction and manufacturing trades through Helmets to Hardhats.
Over the past four years Sears Holdings has contributed a total of more than $27 million in military-related support to nearly 62,000 service members and their families.
PHOTO CAPTION: ESGR National Chair, James Rebholz looks on as Bruce Johnson (left), Sears Holdings Executive Vice President of Off-mall Business and Supply Chain, signs a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve at the company’s Hoffman Estates, Ill., headquarters May 26.