Walmart signs agreement of support for Reserve and Guard

Photo By Timothy Hale | Ronny Hayes, center, regional vice president for Walmart, holds a wall mounted statement of support of the Army Reserve and National Guard, at a Nov. 12, 2012 ceremony in Fayetteville, N.C. Walmart and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve conducted regional signing ceremonies across the U.S. and a national signing statement of support at the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. Pictured with Hayes are Maj. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood, U.S. Army Reserve, left, and Bud Baker, chairman of the North Carolina ESGR.  

FAYETTEVILLE, NC, UNITED STATES

11.12.2012

Story by Timothy Hale  

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Civilian and military officials were on hand to witness the signing of an agreement between Walmart and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at a ceremony Nov. 12, 2012.

Walmart and ESGR conducted six regional signings of the agreement and a national signing of the statement of support at the company’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

Although local Walmart stores have had agreements in the past, this is the first national support agreement the company has signed with ESGR. The agreement publicly acknowledges Wal-Mart’s support for their employees, who have been called to serve our country as a member of the Army Reserve or National Guard, and is a pledge that their jobs and benefits will be there when they return from their service.

“With this signing, Walmart publicly affirms that the National Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our nation and the well-being of our communities,” said Bud Baker, ESGR chairman for North Carolina.

Ronny Hayes, Walmart regional vice president, said the signing was a reaffirmation of the company’s continued support of military service members.

“When you see the response of the Guard and the Reserve at key events in our country, such as Hurricane Sandy in the northeast, you can’t help but be impressed,” Hayes said. “The professionalism, the dedication, and their commitment to country, to me, are second to none.

“At Wal-Mart, we love to hire the service members,” Hayes said. “It’s such a great partnership because the service members – the qualities that they possess coming in – are truly fantastic. Our company was founded by a veteran and Sam Walton truly had a deep belief in supporting the military.”

According to company information, Walmart has between 3,000 and 4,000 associates who are on military leave at any given time.

“At the end of the day, they are proven leaders and leadership is the true foundation for any company’s success,” Hayes said.

U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood said Walmart and the military have some common traits that Walton, and company leaders since him, believed in.

“Committing to your business and hiring people that are better than you,” Thurgood said. “I think those two rules apply, not only in business, but also to the military.

“Today we have a committed force that has answered the call to duty. They are committed to the ideals of freedom and liberty. And they are committed to a cause greater than themselves,” he said.

“The second rule is just as applicable. As the nation’s premier institute for leadership development, we seek to build on the legacy of those who have gone before us,” Thurgood said. “We build leaders from the ground up.”

In a company statement, officials said Walmart also guarantees placement of Soldiers and Family members employed by the company if they are transferred by the U.S. military and agrees that associates called to military duty will be paid any difference in their salary if the associate earns less money during their military assignment.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2012
• Date Posted: 11.13.2012 13:50
• Story ID: 97702
• Location: FAYETTEVILLE, NC, US