Labor & Employment

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted 96-0 to confirm former Wal-Mart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell as White House budget director.

Burwell, the first fully confirmed budget director since January 2012, when Jack Lew, now Treasury Secretary, left the position to become Obama's chief of staff, received a vote of confidence from her former employer.

The Hershey Company announced a series of personnel moves it said would help accelerate global growth.

Executives involved in the changes which take effect May 13 include Humberto Alfonso, David Tacka, Michele Buck, E. Daniel Vucovich, D. Michael Wege and Waheed Zaman

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Land O'Lakes has named Autumn Veazey as its director of government relations and Daryn McBeth as its director of state affairs and industry relations.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Wednesday that it is implementing a pilot program that brings increased transparency to its workforce scheduling and allows associates to choose more hours for themselves.

Walmart said it is piloting the program in Denver and Fort Smith, Ark., to provide associates with transparent and consistent information on available shifts throughout the store and give them the opportunity to request to work any of those shifts.

NEW YORK — The Jones Group Inc. plans to close 170 under-performing stores in the U.S. by mid-2014 as part of its efforts to shore up profitability.

The stores identified for closure include 50 units previously announced in the fourth quarter.

Jones, which owns the Nine West, Jones New York and Anne Klein banners among others, will emerge from the restructuring with a higher percentage of outlet stores in its portfolio, and some units will be converted to more viable sister banners.

PLANO, Texas — J. C. Penney has promoted Brynn Evanson to EVP of human resources. Evanson will lead all HR functions across stores, supply chain and the home office, including team member relations, recruiting, learning and development, compensation and benefits and talent operations. She will also join the company's executive board, reporting to CEO Myron E. Ullman.

New York -- Coach on Tuesday reported that its net income for three-month period ending on March 30 rose 6.2% to $238.9 million amid strong sales in North America, beating analysts’ expectations. The company also disclosed that its longtime president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, will step down when his contract expires next year in order to focus on his own namesake brand, which is owned by Coach. Coach said it is already looking for a successor.

Plano, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company announced the promotion of Brynn Evanson to EVP human resources, leading all HR functions across stores, supply chain and the home office, including team member relations, recruiting, learning and development, compensation and benefits, and talent operations. Evanson will join the company`s executive board, reporting to CEO Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III.

Evanson, 44, joined J.C. Penney in 2009 and most recently served as VP compensation, benefits and talent operations.