Sears and the Military

Started by Duck · 25 posts · 4,326 views

  1. #1
    Maybe you have seen this email floating around, maybe not. Here it is if you have not seen it,


    Sears - Christmas shopping has already started

    I know I needed this reminder since Sears isn't always my first choice. Amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and they haven't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year?

    How does Sears treat its employees who are called up for military duty? 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 60 months.

    I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I 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.


    So I decided to check this out before I sent it forward to a few of my usual forums. I sent the following e-mail to the Sears Customer Service Department:


    I received this e-mail 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 company. 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's cheaper at that store.


    This is their answer to my e-mail:


    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]<mailto:[email protected]>
    1-800-349-4358


    http://www.searsholdings.com/communityrelations/hero/

    http://www.searsholdings.com/communityrela...ro/military.htm

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

  2. #2
    That's very cool. 👍
  3. #3
    That's cool, but they can't give health insurance benefits to the employees they promised it to when they were hired. They told me when I was hired that after a year of part time work (the usual 35-38 hour-per-week bullshit that they do to have an essentially full-time employee while being able to treat him like a part-timer), I'd qualify for health insurance. A year later, I say to the boss, "Hey, isn't it about time I get my benefits?" "Oh no, sorry John, we discontinued that at the first of the year." And no, apparently I didn't get to be grandfathered in.

    A lack of health insurance really came back to bite me in the ass a couple months later. That was when I busted my ribs, and worse, I developed Ulcerative Colitis. I don't work for Sears any more.

    Beware of their credit card and the high interest rates they charge. Sears stores=life support system for a credit card company.
  4. #4
    It's good to see there are still a few good corporate citizens out there.
  5. #5
    Bubbaspanky wrote:It's good to see there are still a few good corporate citizens out there.

    They are when it suits them. Why would you call them good cooperate citizens after reading my post? Is it OK to screw me over because I'm not military?

    They've also got an exclusive on US military 1st Infantry Battalion branded clothing.
    http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...8B951C02E26567E

    Quid pro quo, Clarisse. . .

    ETA: I don't know anything about the site I posted to. I read about this a couple months ago, and this is the most informative link my Google-fu turned up. AFAIK, the info is correct.
  6. #6
    Ok, that was harsh. Ignore it.
  7. #7
    Doc I didn't mean in your situation, that sucks. 😛
  8. #8
    Already feel the first symptoms of an ulcerative colitis reading what happend to Doc.
    Here in Spain we r still blessed with free Social Security.
  9. #9
    Bubbaspanky wrote:Doc I didn't mean in your situation, that sucks. 😛

    Yeah, I know, what I said was totally unnecessary. I just have an axe to grind over the health insurance they pulled away from me like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown. On further investigation, I can't even cynically tie their exceptionally good treatment of reservists to their self-interest of wanting the "Big Red 1" brand exclusive. They've been doing it far too long for me to realistically believe they were maneuvering for that all along.

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

    Always check your facts, and be willing to change your mind if the facts lead you that way. 😀

  10. #10
    saintchism wrote:Already feel the first symptoms of an ulcerative colitis reading what happend to Doc.
    Here in Spain we r still blessed with free Social Security.


    So, in Spain, you get health care paid for by the taxes you pay? Do you know if they do that in Germany as well?

    EDIT: Apologies for hijacking the thread. Maybe we should split this off.
  11. #11
    DocJon wrote:So, in Spain, you get health care paid for by the taxes you pay? Do you know if they do that in Germany as well?


    In Germany we have many different companies providing coverage, it is paid in part by the employer and employee. Also, rates are Gov. controlled. What is important, is that every one gets Health Insurance no matter what. Private insurance is slightly better if you want more choice (i.e Hospital or Medicine).

    Belgium is like Spain where it is included in your Paycheck (part of the Social Tax), but you still must pay a very small amount to a Healthcare provider. Also, Fixed rates because 80% is covered and the rest you must pay.

    UK has a National Health Service which covers everyone. Good idea but unfortuantly not as good as the rest of Europe. Long waiting times and Doctors not accepting more patients. Needs to be improved.
  12. #12
    Varg wrote:In Germany we have many different companies providing coverage, it is paid in part by the employer and employee. Also, rates are Gov. controlled. What is important, is that every one gets Health Insurance no matter what. Private insurance is slightly better if you want more choice (i.e Hospital or Medicine).

    Belgium is like Spain where it is included in your Paycheck (part of the Social Tax), but you still must pay a very small amount to a Healthcare provider. Also, Fixed rates because 80% is covered and the rest you must pay.

    UK has a National Health Service which covers everyone. Good idea but unfortuantly not as good as the rest of Europe. Long waiting times and Doctors not accepting more patients. Needs to be improved.

    You are living in Germany? Sorry Varg, I forgot that. I hear the accent and don't think of Germany. 🙂

    How do people get cared for when doctors aren't accepting new patients? Do they just call more doctors until they find one that has openings?

    Do doctors make a good living in the UK? Doctors make a lot in the US, but they have a lot of education to pay off as well. Malpractice insurance takes a bite as well.

    Spain and Belgium coverage includes 80% coverage, and the rest is out-of-pocket? Many procedures are very expensive, and 20% of a lot is STILL a lot. Are there no private care options available that covers more? I guess without knowing what things cost over there, it will be difficult to know how painful that 20% could be.

    Dude, you're gonna wish you didn't sign up for this thread 😀
  13. #13
    Doc just went and got a visa for spain.

    BTW Doc, you need to change your avatar, that was Atomms for so long you keep confusing me,
  14. #14
    Bubbaspanky wrote:Doc just went and got a visa for spain.

    BTW Doc, you need to change your avatar, that was Atomms for so long you keep confusing me,

    They're all too smart for that 🙁

    Avatar fixed. You're lucky. For some reason, the forums didn't like my "fat guy dancing in a speedo" gif 🙂
  15. #15
    ha I like that one.
  16. #16
    Bubba, u got a Visa for Spain? Hey, that's all such a wonderful timing, man. Make sure u drop by at my place.


    I HAVEHAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE LAPTOP I AM WORKING WITH
    EVERYTHING IS FINE - ITS ME - I MESSED IT UP - DO NOT WANT TO GO INTO DETAILS AT THIS POINT - WE EVEN GOT CANNED BUDDWEISER SO DO NOT TAKE ANY WITH U -

    C U SOON DUDE


    PS.This was the ex-avatar of Atomm, he? That dude is a monster of style. I liked it a lot. Moving exactly with the rythm of my favorite Heavy Metal radio station 🙂

    edit: happily got fixed up by calling a german support line - talking with a very friendly turkish tec - sweet
    That is exactly what I am missing at gamersradio. Where is ur guy's hotline, he?

    And last but not least - Sears politics r showing me that not all things r just tinted in plain black/white. My first reaction to the e-mail Duck found was positive (sth like happiness - hope-change popped up) just to be exchanged by well anger about what happened in Doc's case. Abominatation.
  17. #17
    saintchism wrote:That is exactly what I am missing at gamersradio. Where is ur guy's hotline, he?

    And last but not least - Sears politics r showing me that not all things r just tinted in plain black/white. My first reaction to the e-mail Duck found was positive (sth like happiness - hope-change popped up) just to be exchanged by well anger about what happened in Doc's case. Abominatation.

    You're ON our hotline. This is it. 🙂

    As for the 'all things are not in black & white', well, what can I say? It's certainly true. Sears IS to be commended for what they do for their reservist employees, but like any business, they aren't all rainbows and unicorns. They want to make money, and I haven't met a business yet that was above screwing over it's employees to make a buck. Most businesses have good sides and bad sides. Sears just happens to have a good side that attracts a lot of attention. Maybe that's part of the reason why they do it.
  18. #18
    DocJon wrote:This is it. 🙂

    Maybe that's part of the reason why they do it.


    Bubba, did I hear the klinging sound of a 🍻 or don't u drink beer, I could offer u french vulcan table water or tea, green tea, black tea, mate, peppermint with green tea - very refreshing marocain version of green tea and my favorite tea and could even offer u Expresso from the traditional italian coffeemachine where the water gets boiled or don't u like to get invited by me, or is it something else???........(to be continued)

    Nope, sorry not at all the hotline type of person. I am getting too personal. Almost always. And nervous. Either ppl tell me their whole life blocking the urgency line so I have to cut them off or when somebody on the phone pisses me off I can change too. Its so funny, but with the voice alone u say so much. A sweet voice can tell sb lots of bullshit, he won't even pay attention to, when the voice gets rougher though more from the throught and u breathe with the words also a soft spoken but somewhat deeper voice can be more effective than all these unnecessary words. I'd rather be on the other end of the line. That is confirmative.

    Ya maybe. Could well be. Sears got a good image. When I remember well.

    And here in Spain, very nice explication Varg gave there before btw, it is paid for with different percentages but starting with 4.70 % Social Security 1.60 % and 0.10 % professional Formacion Rent 2.0 % deduction off the ur brutto income, the same is deducted of the vacational payments. The employer has to transfer the same amount. But what I meant by "free" is that once u worked on ur social security no., in case of unemployment u r not dependent on any unemployment payments or social security, lets say u r without any income still they got u listed forever as u have ur social secuity no. That's it. I did not know that for a long time. In Germany its that u have to go through a crap of aplication forms where u got to open all ur posessions and income, acounts and i.e. and then at the same time u r obligated to take on any bullshit job they offer u when the employer likes u and ur curriculum. Did it one time. Never again.
  19. #19
    Saintchism is right about Germany, when you are unemployed then you have to fill in lots of stuff so that your Healthcare provider can then fill in lots of stuff so that everyone knows where the money comes from. You still get coverage but its an accountability thing.

    Doc: I'm from the UK but I live in Germany now. The UK problem means that you constantly look for a NHS Doctor nearest to where you live.

    Last answer to Doc: In Belgium the 20% can be covered for by buying extra insurance (from yourself or with luck your company).

    --- and isn't this topic about Sears? 😕
  20. #20
    Ha, I wonder which system the democrats will copy from, Germany, Canada, or England.

    Saint, I think that is kinda cool is a way. Here once you get past the paperwork you can stay in the system for years.

    I guess at least Sears is holding those positions for them. The moment they get back home and go to work they will probably get laid off.

    Nothing is perfect, but I'm fairly certain the government will screw up health care as much as they have everything else.
  21. #21
    lexx wrote:I think that is kinda cool is a way. Here once you get past the paperwork you can stay in the system for years.


    Lexx, what´s cool, the german system or the spanish one?
    And yes its good anyways what they do for them soldiers. It is not so much either. Should be the very minimum. But Doc´s case p me off.
    BTW was reading Doc´s post again and was not sure if he really wanted to go into depth:

    Doc Jon:Spain and Belgium coverage includes 80% coverage, and the rest is out-of-pocket? Many procedures are very expensive, and 20% of a lot is STILL a lot. Are there no private care options available that covers more? I guess without knowing what things cost over there, it will be difficult to know how painful that 20% could be.

    Dude, you're gonna wish you didn't sign up for this thread


    So now I have to come back to u, Varg, where do u get the 80% coverage info from?
    It is all covered. 100%. At least in Spain. The only exception is: teeth. Everything considering the teeth (except here again in case of accident) u have to pay privately.
  22. #22
    It was an off the cuff remark Saint. I'm convinced government run healthcare will be yet another mistake America makes along the path to utopia. At least in Spain those without jobs will be hassled until they do find work. Thats not the case in the US. Any clampdown on welfare now would be political doom for this new administration.
  23. #23
    lexx wrote:It was an off the cuff remark Saint. I'm convinced government run healthcare will be yet another mistake America makes along the path to utopia. At least in Spain those without jobs will be hassled until they do find work. Thats not the case in the US. Any clampdown on welfare now would be political doom for this new administration.


    That is yet to see. With 10 mil unemployed it is a serious thing AW.

    And I guess by Spain u meant Germany.

    And just to make that clear from my side: What happened to me in Germany was that the company I was working for - a small advertising agency specialized in life science - was shut down because of bad order situation. Consequences - I needed to look out for another job.
    But I can do that perfectly without that the unemployment agency is sending me their job offers which I am obligated to respond to: that means - sending a map including my curriculum copies of certificates and appraisals etc. and all that for what? The job offers were 88% under my profile´s niveau. Most employers I was talking too after they invited me for an interview saw that the same way. Normal and decent ppl. The ones that complained at the unemployment agency about my attitude were some stupid nuts selling recycled toner cartridges?! It is not possible for me to say no ift they offer me a job,even if it fux all my curriculum. No thank´s they can keep their unemployment check. I rather prefer not being secured by health insurance for a while or pay a privat company than anybody is telling me what job I have to take.
  24. #24
    to saintchism: The comparison was Healthcare Tax. I do not know the Spainish system so I reported about Belgium's 80% coverage. It is a way that the Belgiums control the high cost of Healthcare.
  25. #25
    Being good to vets and soldiers is good for Sears image so they, along with many other corporations, will do it because it means they can do something patriotic that also benefits their bottom line. I'm not saying that they shouldn't do it - they should. But they should also be treating their non-military employees better.

    In regards to "welfare" - Look up the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This limits the amount of time anyone can get welfare and makes the payments contingent upon work. Expenditures for the "welfare" program in the US is around 1% of the total budget, and is annually about 50 times less than what we've spent on the bank bailout (corporate welfare) so far.

    What is really causing problems is the expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid, which are rapidly becoming the equal of the defense budget in terms of size. So the government is already spending about 20-25% of it's budget on health related costs. Corporations are going broke trying to keep up with insurance premiums for their employees, or workers are getting their benefits cut, or both. My premiums are going up faster than my wages are increasing, and I'm sure I'm not alone. That, and my co-pays continue to go up as well.

    The current health care system in the US is not working, and we need to try something else. I don't know what exactly, but something needs to change. It is simply not sustainable as things are going currently.