Office Depot Associates
Office Depot looks out for its more than 42,000 associates in many ways, but rarely with results as dramatic as this: During a free diabetes and cholesterol screening at one of our locations, a 34–year–old woman with a 7– year–old child was told to contact her doctor immediately. She was hospitalized the next day; according to her doctor, she was hours away from a potentially fatal diabetic shock. Without question, the screenings provided by Office Depot saved her life.
Screenings, free flu shots, health and wellness classes, inclusion of a wellness center in our new Global Headquarters and distribution of a 2009 "Daily Dose of Health" Calendar were just a few of the ways in which our company showed that we care about our associates' well–being. We also provided a wide variety of opportunities for training and leadership development. In 2008, we launched the Office Depot Learning Portal to give our associates more ways to expand their skills. We supported associates who moved into management roles with training in such key areas as communication, delegation, coaching, goal setting and conflict management.
We held focus groups to address opportunities and develop long–term strategies arising from a Global Engagement Survey at the end of 2007, and we expanded our Global Innovation Award program to encourage fresh thinking and new ideas. We carefully considered our associates' physical surroundings, as well. For example, the company's new UK headquarters in Leicester was designed to create the best possible working environment, with particular attention paid to such features as sound masking and speech privacy.
For the fourth year, Office Depot was honored by the National Association for Female Executives as a "Top Company dedicated to the advancement of women." Among the reasons for the recognition: Three of Office Depot's eight executive officers are female, while four women sit on the Office Depot Board of Directors. Our Women's Steering Committee continues to support female associates by involving them in professional development and educational seminars and offering membership discounts to women's business associations.
At Office Depot, "taking care of our associates" is clearly intertwined with Taking Care of Business.