Labor & Employment

Leading payment technology and services company First Data has launched First Data Salutes, a company-wide military engagement strategy aimed at helping the veteran-owned business community and service members and their families who are making the transition to civilian careers.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday said it will no longer provide health benefits to part-time associates who work less than 30 hours a week in a move to control its rising healthcare costs. The chain, the nation’s largest private employer, said the decision will impact about 2% of its total U.S. work force.

The announcement follows similar decisions by Target, Home Depot, Walgreens and Trader Joe’s to cut health insurance benefits for part-time associates.  

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores  announced it will close its Bon-Ton store in the Clearview Mall in Butler, Pennsylvania, and its Elder-Beerman store in the Raleigh Mall in Beckley, West Virginia.

The company will not renew these leases, which terminate January 31, 2015. The stores will close at the end of the leases.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Kansas on Oct. 11. The store is located in Schulman Crossing in Garden City.  

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

New York - Brixmor Property Group, owner and operator of the largest wholly-owned portfolio of grocery-anchored shopping centers in the U.S., has named Christopher Ralph as VP leasing and will be based in Orlando, Florida. In this role, Ralph will oversee the leasing at Brixmor’s 58 community and neighborhood centers in Florida, which collectively total nine million-sq.-ft..

Springfield, N.J. – Store closing and pre-opening costs, as well as an unfavorable state tax ruling, reduced net income at Village Super Market Inc. 5% to $5.87 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, from $6.2 million in the same quarter the prior year. Two new store openings helped boost net sales 5.5% to $383.8 million, from $376.3 million.

Same-store sales rose 9%. For fiscal 2015, Village Super Market expects same-store sales to range from flat to slightly positive.

Houston - Stage Stores Inc. has entered into an amended and restated $350 million senior secured revolving credit facility that will mature on Oct. 6, 2019. The credit facility replaces the company’s former $250 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which was set to mature on June 30, 2016.

PepsiCo has appointed Tony West EVP of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Nov. 24. He succeeds Larry Thompson, who is retiring after almost a decade of service.

Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Melissa A. Howell SVP of global human resources. Howell will report directly to chairman, CEO and president Blake Krueger.

Howell has more than 24 years of experience in human resource management with General Motors, one of the world's largest automobile companies, with more than 200,000 employees in more than 150 countries. Howell most recently served as SVP of global human resources and also held numerous other human resource leadership roles during her time with the company.  

Bon-Ton plans to close its Bon-Ton store in the Clearview Mall in Butler, Pennsylvania, and its Elder-Beerman store in the Raleigh Mall in Beckley, West Virginia. The company will not renew these leases, which terminate Jan. 31, 2015.

The closings will affect approximately 38 and 39 store employees at the Clearview Mall and Raleigh Mall locations, respectively.