Bill Simon, President and CEO, Walmart U.S., to sign Statement of Support in honor of Veterans Day
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 12, 2012 – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced Walmart will sign a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve at 11a.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012. Bill Simon, President and CEO, Walmart U.S., will sign the pledge in a ceremony at the corporate offices in Bentonville, Arkansas. Simon served 25 years in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve and will be joined by the Honorable Jessica L. Wright, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In addition to the corporate office signing ceremony, Walmart is conducting a national Statement of Support signing initiative at 10 regional locations.
The Statement of Support confirms Walmart joins other employers in pledging:
- We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
- Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
- We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.
- We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.
Of the more than two million Americans who have gone to war since September 11, 2001, almost half have been members of the Guard and Reserve. "Employer support is a critical component of our national defense," said Jessica L. Wright, Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "Walmart's Statement of Support sends a clear message that they stand firmly committed to our Citizen Warriors, recognize their unmatched value in the workplace, and uphold the noble obligations that come with being a military employer. Thanks to supportive employers such as Walmart, the men and women of the Guard and Reserve can serve our country more effectively and with greater peace of mind."
“The men and women of the Guard and Reserve give so much for our country, and Walmart is proud to support them,” said Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. “Our company will be with our associates and their families in times of crisis and times of calm. We have a long history of hiring veterans, Guard members, and Reservists because of their unique leadership skills and strong values, and we will continue to seek out and hire our heroes.” At any given time, Walmart has an estimated three to four thousand associates on military leave of absence.
The retail giant is actively looking to fill positions with service members and their job openings have been made available via the Reserve Affairs Hero 2 Hired program at www.H2H.Jobs. Hero 2 Hired is free for service members and employers.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,300 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
About ESGR
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging the employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.
More information about ESGR Employer Outreach is available atwww.ESGR.mil or by contacting Tom Bullock, Chief, Employer Outreach, at (571) 372-0709, or by email at tom.bullock@osd.mil.