When I was little, and there was a scare of poison in medicine bottles, Johnson & Johnson immediately recalled its product. J & J didn't wait to be told to by the government or forced to by public opinion -- they realized that the smart move, and the right move, was to act fast, authoritatively and responsibly.
Years later, people in my hometown on Highland Park, New Jersey, still remember that with a touch of pride. The headquarters of J & J is across the Raritan River in New Brunswick, and we were proud of our good neighbors.
They weren't just good neighbors. They were good corporate citizens.
I experienced that same surprised sensation of admiration when I heard how Sears was treating its employees who were being called up from their reserve status and sent to Iraq. Sears is paying full wages and benefits to these employees -- while other companies hold their spots for them, as required by law, but often try to cut corners.
Below is the response I received from writing to [email protected] to ask if the policy was true and to thank them for being good corporate citizens.
From Sears:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for taking the time to let us know of your support for our actions regarding our associates who have been called into active duty.
As you may have read, Sears has extended its program of military pay differential to 36 months. This includes allowing Sears reservists who are full-time employees to continue participating in the company's life insurance, medical and dental programs, if they choose. The company will also hold a comparable position for these individuals for up to five years.
Sears has a heritage of commitment to families and home. This is a difficult time for military families, and we are proud to be able to take these actions to demonstrate support for our many co-workers who are serving our Nation.
Again, thank you for your correspondence. We appreciate your interest in our efforts, and hope you will continue to make Sears your choice for quality and value. Sears, Good Life. Great Price.
Sincerely,
The Employees of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
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