Labor & Employment

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart has launched an initiative to hire any honorably discharged US military veteran within the first 12 months after they have been on active duty. Through a program dubbed Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, Wal-Mart anticipates hiring more than 100,000 veterans by 2018.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kroger's mid-south division president John Hackett is retiring, after 50 years of service with the company. Hackett began his career with Kroger in 1963 as a store clerk in London, Ohio, while working his way through college at The Ohio State University.

CINCINNATI — Kroger plans to provide $2.3 million to support the USO's broad range of programs that assist service members and their families, as part of its Honoring Our Heroes campaign.

For the following two weeks, store-wide promotions will feature hundreds of popular products at special sale prices. Customized shelf tags will highlight participating items, including Kroger's own products and items from key partners, including Unilever, Coca Cola, Kraft, Nestle, Frito Lay, Procter & Gamble, ConAgra and Dannon. Start and end dates vary by region.

CINCINNATI — Alan George "A. G." Lafley has rejoined Procter & Gamble as president and CEO, the company announced late last week. He succeeds Bob McDonald, who makes his exit from the company after 33 years.

Lafley has also been elected to the board of directors and will serve as its chair. Lafley joined Procter & Gamble in 1977 and served as president and CEO from 2000 to 2009.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University received a $1 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. IVMF will launch a competitive grant program for veteran vocational education at community and technical colleges in California, New York, Texas and North Carolina. 

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has made a $250,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross, toward tornado relief efforts in Moore, Okla., and the surrounding area. The American Red Cross is delivering emergency supplies and services to the tornado-impacted areas.

SAN ANTONIO — This Memorial Day weekend, Walmart and Sam's Club will launch the company's initiative to hire 100,000 veterans throughout the next five years.  

The event will take place Saturday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart supercenter located at 8923 W. Military Rd. Lunch and giveaways will be provided by Walmart and Sam's Club suppliers, including Johnsonville's World's Largest Grill. The event is part of the continuing Saluting Heroes Together campaign, which Walmart launched May 18 with Operation Homefront. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has appointed Dan Bartlett, former senior counselor to George W. Bush, as its EVP of corporate affairs. Bartlett was most recently president and CEO of the U.S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, nonprofits and associations in 52 countries.