November 15, 2004

Wal-Mart Touts its Various Efforts on Behalf of U.S. Service Men and Women Serving Overseas

*Updated*
(see below @ *Update*)


Just came across a recent Wal-Mart press release (dated Tuesday November 9, 2004) concerning how their 'M.A.C.K. Packs' Connect 900,000 Service Men and Women to Loved Ones Back Home:

Phone Cards, E-mails and Message Books Link Family and Friends


BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nothing compares to a word from home -- or a chance to send word home to loved ones. For more than 900,000 active duty service members, communicating with family and friends this holiday season just became a lot easier.

A gift from the Wal-Mart & SAM'S CLUB Foundation to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation will provide M.A.C.K Packs to every member of the armed services deployed overseas. M.A.C.K. stands for Military Assistance Communications Kit. Each kit includes a phone card, writing paper, note cards, envelopes, a folder with a 2005 calendar and a letter of support. The kits will be Fed Ex'ed to the troops overseas beginning on Veteran's Day, allowing some 900,000 members of the military to call and write loved ones from virtually anywhere in the world this holiday season.

"Our troops love nothing more than to know that they are remembered and appreciated," said VFW Adjutant General John J. Senk, Jr. "Out of all the hardships our military endure, the hardest thing is being away from family and friends. The M.A.C.K. Pack kits will bring a little bit of home to them and help them connect with their loved ones -- it's a gift of communication. Wal- Mart's tremendous support for our troops and veterans now and through the years has been remarkable."

[...]


Read the press release in full, here.


*Update*

In addition to the above mentioned press release however, WM also has several informative pages (ten at this point in time) -- including some archived news articles -- documenting their various efforts and programs for Supporting Our Troops and their families (left-hand menu under the main heading of Supporting Our Troops, which is highlighted in red).

Posted by Morgan on November, 15 2004 at 01:08 AM

Comments & Trackbacks
DAVE wrote:

PROMOTIONAL DOLLARS WELL SPENT.....


IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT WAS WORTH THE
TIME TO MAKE IT APPEAR IT WAS A COMPANY
WIDE POSITION EXPRESSED BY ALL OF IT'S
PARTICIPATING LOCAL AREA EMPLOYEES.


MANY STATES DO NOT SHOW WAL-MART SIGNING THE SUPPORT
DOCUMENT. IE: OREGON

The following organization(s) have signed Statements of Support for the Guard and Reserve:

ALL MACHINE INC., Cheshire
AMATUER COMMUNICATIONS, Portland
ARCHIE M. DUGUID, REAL ESTATE PROP., Eugene
BERTSCH MOVING & STORAGE CO. INC., Eugene
BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, Portland
BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, Portland
CEO TRAINING SCHOOL, Salem
CEO TRAINING SCHOOL, Salem
CHILDERS MEAT, INC., Eugene
CITY OF CRESWELL, Creswell
CITY OF OAKRIDGE, Oakridge
CITY OF SALEM, Salem
CITY OF SUTHERLIN, Sutherlin
CRANE EQUIPMENT MFG. CORP., Eugene
DEPT OF INTERIOR BLM CRRA, Eugene
DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST, Bend
DHHS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, Eugene
DIAMOND PARKING SERVICE "DPS", Eugene
DIESEL DRIVING SCHOOL, Eugene
EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Eugene
EUGENE FREEZING & STORAGE CO., Eugene
EXTREME COMFORT INCORPORATED, Eugene
FARM SERVICE AGENCY - USDA, Tangent
FLIGHTCRAFT, Eugene
FOREST GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT, Forest Grove
FURROW BUILDING MATERIALS, Eugene
GENE STRINFIELD BUILDING MATERIALS, Eugene
GENERAL TRAILER COMPANY, Springfield
HAYATOU NEW BRAND ALUMINUM PRODUCT, sango ogun
HEARING FOREST INDUSTRIES, Eugene
HYSTER SALES COMPANY, Eugene
JAY INDUSTRIES, INC., Mansfield
JAY INDUSTRIES, INC., Mansfield
JENKINS ESTATE, Portland
KAISER PERMANENTE, Portland
KBOO, Portland
LANE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, Eugene
LANE COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES, Eugene
LANE COUNTY VETERANS, Eugene
LIFEGATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Eugene
MITCHELL & SONS LOGGING CO., Loraine
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Portland
NPE, Eugene
OREGON DOME, INC., Eugene
OREGON STATE, Salem
OREGON, DEPT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, Portland
PCC SCHLOSSER, Redmond
PERSONNEL SOLUTIONS, Eugene
PIONEER PACIFIC COLLEGE, OR CAMPUS, Springfield
PIONEER YOUTH CORPS OF OREGON INC., Eugene
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC, Tigard
PRECISION MACHINE & MFG. INC., Eugene
PV POWERED LLC, Bend
RFT REED'S FUEL & TRUCKING, Springfield
RL KEY SHOP, Junction City
ROADWAY EXPRESS, Eugene
ROSBORO LUMBER COMPANY, Springfield
SANTA CLARA TRASMISSION, Eugene
SILVER EAGLE COMPANY, Bend
SKYLINE MEMORIAL GARDENS & FUNERAL, Portland
SKYLINE MEMORIAL GARDENS & FUNERAL, Portland
SPRINGFIELD CREAMERY, INC., Eugene
TCI OF OREGON, Eugene
THE BOW RACK INC., Springfield
THE MILL, North Bend
THE TRUSS CO., Eugene
TREE PRODUCTS HARDWOODS, INC., Eugene
TRIPOD DATA SYSTEMS, Corvallis
TUALATIN HILLS PARKS & RECREATION, Beaverton
UI MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., Beaverton
VETERANS INDUSTRIES OF OREGON, INC., Eugene
WESTSIDE GLASS, Eugene
WFH - CHEC, Oregon City
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SOME OF THE RULES.............

An employee must be considered not to have been absent from the workplace if the only reason for that absence was service in a uniformed service. A returning employee must be made "whole" by:

- being allowed to contribute to the pension plan any amount that would have been contributed had the employee not been absent

- being reinstated with privileges and status the employee earned by length of service (for example, after 3 years with a company an employee may be entitled to accrue more vacation per year, or after 5 years an employee is automatically advanced to a management position.)

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WAL-MART ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP UP ON YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE.
YOU MUST MAKE THE PREMIUM PAYMENTS.

WAL-MART WILL MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN PAY FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS.
GIVEN WAL-MART'S WAGE FOR EMPLOYEE THGE GUARD PROBABLY IN
MOST CASES PAYS MORE.

WAL-MART CONTRIBUTES THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE AWAY SERVING COUNTRY
TO THE EMPLOYEE 401K PROGRAM. THERE IS NO PRORATE ON THIS. THE TAX
BREAK WAL-MART GETS AS A BENEFIT WILL NOT BE INTERUPTED. WITH THE
EMPLOYEE TURNOVER RATE MOST EMPLOYEES NEVER BENEFIT FROM THE
COMPANY CONTRIBUTION.


Military Leave of Absence Record
Note: Use of this form is recommended for all extended training (other than two-week annual).
Form should be completed by Employer and Employee.
Military Orders: (Complete only if orders are not attached and information is available.)
Employee’s Name:
SSN: Branch of Service:
Check One: Reserve member National Guard Member Volunteer
Company Name: Employee Position Title:
Name of Department Head or Supervisor:
Employee Hire Date:
Date Company was notified employee was leaving for military duty:
Name of military headquarters issuing orders:
Order Number:
Date of orders:
Date ordered to report for active duty:
Length of time ordered to duty:
Name of military unit:
Location of Armory/meeting place of National Guard or Reserve member:
If employee (and/or family members) has medical insurance, will it be continued: Yes No
If yes, how long?
If medical insurance is discontinued, what is the last day of coverage?
Was COBRA letter given to employee: Yes No
How much vacation time is due employee:
Did employee request pay for vacation due or will be held until employee returns: Pay Held
How much sick leave is due employee:
Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve
ESGR Form #9
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WHILE THERE IS NO DOUBT WAL-MART SPENDS A
LARGE AMOUNT ON THE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
THAT MILITARY ACTIVITIES PROVIDE. BE ASSURED
THAT IT IS ALL WAL-MART IS CONCERNED WITH. THE
BEST AVENUE FOR IT'S ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL
DOLLAR. THE STORIES, TRAGEDIES, SELF SACRIFICES OF
OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL FACTOR AS NOTHING WHEN
WAL-MART CALCULATES THE CONTRIBUTIVE VALUE OF
TIME AT STORE WORKED THAT DETERMINES THAT
EMPLOYEES YEARLY BONUS. HEROIC AS SOME OF
THE SACRIFICES MAY BE. WAL-MART WILL STILL
PRORATE THAT EMPLOYEE AWAY SERVING COUNTRY
WHEN HIS / HER BONUS CHECK ARRIVES,

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WAL-MART'S CONCERN WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION.....


Subj: Response from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Ref #000000005367096)
Date: 3/4/2004 2:11:16 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: esamssc@homeoffice.wal-mart.com
To: rufnredeye@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)


Thank you for your message.

We are sorry that you are so upset. We would suggest that you send the
e-mail to www.walmart.com for further assistance though. Have a great day
from Sam's Club.


For further correspondence regarding this issue, please reply to this email.


----Your Original Comments Were----

ACCORDING TO YOUR CORPORATE RESPONSE FROM JEAN COX YOU DO NOT

SHOW ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO A SERVICE PERSON WHEN YOU AD-

-JUST THEIR BONUS DEPENDING ON TIME SPENT AWAY. THIS IS NOT ABOVE

AND BEYOND BY ANY STRETCH. YOU ARE ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXIST-

-ING LAWS. OTHERWISE FACED WITH DISCRIMINATION ETC. YOU DO NOT

PROVIDE WHAT YOU ADVERTISE. IT IS DISRESPECTFUL FOR YOU TO KEEP

THE ' PATRIOTISM AWARD ' YOU JUST RECEIVED. AS OUR MILITARY FACES

THE SITUATIONS OF OUR TIME'S THEY CONTINUE TO HONOR US AND THEM-

SELVES WITH AN ON GOING TRADITION OF GOING BEYOND. YOU WAL-MART

ARE TAKING CREDIT FOR SOMETHING YOU WON'T DO UNLESS YOU RECEIVE

TAX BREAK FOR IT. GIVE BACK THAT AWARD ! DO YOU WANT AN AWARD

FOR FOLLOWING ' FMLA' REGULATIONS TOO ?

-- March 19, 2005 02:05 PM ∞