Retailers support our troops
BENTONVILLE, Ark. andHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Walmart and Sears Holdings have both announced their commitment to helping military members maintain employment when moving from one community to another.
The commitment is in line with a new initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to raise awareness around the challenges that military personnel and their spouses endure when moving from one community to another. To learn more about the "joining forces" intiative, click here.
Walmart pledged its support of the joining forces campaign, by announcing the launch of its military family promise. The commitment guarantees a job at a nearby store or club for all military personnel, and military spouses, employed at Walmart and Sam's Club who move to a different part of the country because they or their spouse have been transferred by the United States military.
In addition, through Walmart and Sam's Club's Military Family Promise, associates called to active military duty will continue to be paid any difference in their salary if the associate is earning less money during their military assignment.
"As one of the nation's largest employers of veterans, we applaud the First Lady and Dr. Biden's continued leadership when it comes to honoring and supporting our nation's heroes," said Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. "With our presence in communities across the U.S., we are in a unique position to make a difference on issues that matter most to the military and veteran communities. We know an underserved, yet critical, need is access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for military spouses and those returning home from duty. This commitment will help ease the burden of relocation and decrease the financial strain so many military families feel when they are moved to a new part of the country."
In support of the joining forces initiative, Sears has launched the "permanent change of duty station" promise, which helps military associates and spouses employed by Sears Holdings secure job transfers.
"The Sears Holdings PCS Promise for our military associates and their spouses was specifically created to identify new opportunities for our heroes to continue leading successful careers, regardless of their location," said Lou D'Ambrosio, CEO of Sears Holdings. "And it is an honor to offer this promise at the same time that Michelle Obama and Dr. Biden are leading the charge in the Joining Forces initiative, which is committed to providing heroes the support and opportunity they deserve."
According to Sears Holdings, under the PCS promise it will do everything in its power to give military associates who are employed by the retailer a job at a Sears, Kmart or Lands' End store convenient to their new location.
In addition, Sears Holdings said it will also conduct a virtual career fair for military spouses this summer that will enable them to connect online with other military spouses currently employed with the company and get information on employment opportunities at nearly 4,000 store locations.