Kohl's 2003 Annual Report Download - page 9

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Associates at Work
We are committed to having the best talent in retail and
to recruiting and developing the right people to continue
to successfully execute our expansion plan.
All of our growth and expansion would not be possible
without the hard work and dedication of our Associates.
From our stores to our distribution centers to our corporate
offices, every Associate in every job helps to drive our suc-
cess. We thank all of our Associates for their commitment
to Kohl’s, our customers and our communities.
Kohl’s steady expansion provides excellent opportunities
for people to join our team of Associates. Our new store
openings created over 10,000 new jobs in 2003 and we
had the programs in place to successfully recruit and train
Associates to fill them.
We provide training and development programs for
Associates at every level and in every location. We offer
both one-on-one training and computer-based training
to help Associates learn new systems and procedures that
improve customer service and satisfaction.
There are many opportunities for Associates who want
to build a career with Kohl’s. In 2003, a majority of store
executives were promoted internally. Our recruitment
efforts at colleges and universities across the country bring
talented graduates into our store and corporate training
programs. And our internship programs help us to identify
talented young people while they are still in school.
Our retention rates continue to be consistently higher than
many others in our industry, a strong indicator that our
Associates enjoy working at Kohl’s as much as we value
their important role in our success.
Associates in the Community
At Kohl’s, we strongly believe in supporting the communities
we serve and encouraging others to become involved.
And so do our Associates.
Through the Kohl’s A Team program, our Associates make
a significant impact in their communities by volunteering
their time to youth-focused charities. Their volunteer efforts
are further enhanced by corporate grants given directly to the
charities. On June 21, 2003, over 3,500 Kohl’s Associates
from more than 350 locations volunteered a combined
12,000 hours in their communities as part of Join Hands
Day. We are proud to have been the largest corporate
volunteer effort supporting this national event.
Our support of Children’s Hospitals helps us reach more children
and families by funding outreach programs that nurture and
protect the health and well being of children. We donate 100%
of the profits from the sale of our Kohl’s Cares for Kids®items to
support programs at 57 Children’s Hospitals across the country.
The Kohl’s Kids Who Care®program encourages kids
to get involved by recognizing young people who volunteer
in their communities. In 2003, we recognized over 900
outstanding kids through this program.
Kohl’s Cares for Kids®Fundraising Card program makes
it easy for schools and nonprofit organizations in our
communities to raise money. In 2003, we helped over
2,400 schools and nonprofit organizations that support kids.
Outstanding Associates
Kohl’s Associates at every level
participate in training and development
programs that help them learn and grow.
Associate Gina Jenkins volunteered to help a
community children’s organization make gifts for
hospitalized children during Join Hands Day.