Home Depot - Supporting our Military at Home and Abroad <br> <p>Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting a <a href="/en/webcasts_events/webcasts/archived_webcasts_podcasts/leveraging-partnerships-to-maximize-talent-acquisi_eo7ka3xk.html?s=0b87b576-14d6-41a6-95b4-33ce6273f7f5">webcast presented by Teresa Duren</a>, Vice President of Human Resources for Home Depot´s Southern Division, on leveraging partnerships to maximize talent acquisition. During the webcast Teresa and Kurt Ronn, President of HRworks (Home Depot´s recruitment process outsourcing provider) highlighted some of the successes associated with Home Depot´s relationship with the US Military.</p>
<p>In a follow up email to Kurt I asked him to elaborate on the military relationship because the overview provided during the webcast was nothing short of astounding in its scope. As I listened to Teresa describe the partnership with the military and read the subsequent email from Kurt I found my self thinking this is what being a good corporate citizen is all about. This is putting your money where your mouth is. This is walking the talk if you will.</p>
<p>I´m certain Home Depot had a plan to focus on the "business" return on investment when they developed a strategy for recruiting our veterans, after all, the leadership and teamwork training our military receives is a skill set any corporation would embrace. But what Home Depot may not have realized is that through their actions they may have realized an even greater "human compassion" return on investment.</p>
<p>I have always embraced brevity in blog postings however this posting will be an exception to the rule. What follows is the email from Kurt further explaining Home Depot's commitment to our military community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 2005, The Home Depot hired 17,000 former military personnel. The<br>
Store Leadership Program is a two-year rotational training program.<br>
There have been over 1,000 people hired into the Store Leadership<br>
Program. Over 50 percent are junior military officers (JMO) and over 25<br>
percent are from Military Academies. <br>
<br>
Other examples of The Home Depot's commitment to the U.S. military<br>
include the launch of Project Homefront in 2003, through which The Home<br>
Depot donated $1 million and 1 million volunteer hours to help military<br>
families with home repairs while their loved ones were deployed. In July<br>
2004, a $1 million donation in tools and supplies was made to support<br>
U.S. troops in the rebuilding effort in Iraq.<br>
<br>
In September 2004, The Home Depot joined forces with the U.S.<br>
departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs to launch Operation<br>
Career Front(SM), an unprecedented program designed to provide career<br>
opportunities for America's military personnel interested in<br>
transferring their unique skills, knowledge and abilities into a<br>
successful second career.<br>
<br>
Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi<br>
Freedom, The Home Depot has had as many as 1,800 of its associates<br>
called to active duty. Beyond making sure these associates have a<br>
meaningful job when they return home, The Home Depot equalizes pay<br>
between associates' military salary and their potential salary at The<br>
Home Depot. Health benefits are also extended to all deployed associates<br>
and members of their families.<br>
<br>
The National Hiring Partnerships have been widely regarded as successful<br>
by external organizations. The magazine GI Jobs ranked The Home Depot as<br>
the number one military friendly company in 2004. In 2005, The Home<br>
Depot received several commendations for the Company's military<br>
programs, including a Distinguished Service Award from the Military<br>
Officers Association of America (MOAA); a USO Patriot Award from the<br>
United Services Organization (USO) Council of Georgia; a Most<br>
Distinguished American Award from the Marine Corps Law Enforcement<br>
Foundation; a Most Supportive Employer Award for The Home Depot Canada<br>
from the Canadian Forces Liaison Council; and a commendation for support<br>
of active duty, national guard and reserve military personnel through<br>
the Project Homefront initiative from The American Legion.<br>
<br>
This week the company is offering all active duty personnel, reservists,<br>
retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off<br>
their purchases in honor of Independence Day. <br>
<br>
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Kurt<br>
<br>
<br>
Kurt M. Ronn<br>
President<br>
HRworks<br>
Precision. Talent. Recruitment.<br>
770-818-0414, ext. 7050 Phone<br>
770-818-0458 Fax<br>
kronn@HRworks.com<br>
www.HRworks.com</p>
