Sears

Assume you have all seen the reports about how Sears is treating its reservist employees who are called up? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up... Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution.

Suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves.

Pass it on.

So I decided to check it out before I sent it forward. I sent the following email to the Sears Customer Service Department:

I received this email and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the Internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement for your store. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item even if it was cheaper at the other store.

Here is their answer to my email..... ..... ..... ....

Dear Customer:

Thank you for contacting Sears.

The information is factual. We appreciate your positive feedback. Sears regards service to our country as one of greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear at this time.

Bill Thorn Sears Customer Care [email protected] 1-800-349-4358

Please pass this on to all your friends, Sears needs to be recognized for this outstanding contribution and we need to show them as Americans, we do appreciate what they are doing for our military.

I work for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, which is owned by the New York Times. (We're their third biggest paper, after the Times and Boston Globe :) )

In a nutshell, you continue being paid as if you still worked for the company. Salaried, hourly, fulltime, part-time, union, non-union, management, whatever.

Pay: Company pays normal salary less military pay
Benefits: Continue your health, etc insurances. Military becomes primary, company becomes secondary insurer
Retirement: Pension & 401(k) contributions still are made.

About the only major restriction I saw in the memo was you only get an annual bonus (if you/your department has such a plan) the first year you're gone. 2nd and subsequent are missed, but I'd figure that's a very small percentage and the bonuses usually aren't that big except for the big mucky mucks.

Kraig WY

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