Lowe's 2001 Annual Report Download - page 16

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LOWE’S I S GREAT PEOPLE…
Mo re than 110,000 stro ng, Lo we’s emplo yees are o ur most impo rtant co ntact with o ur custo mers,
so Lo we’s arms them with kno wledge that helps them pro vide co nsistently o utstanding service. Lowe’s
believes develo ping the next generatio n o f managers is the best investment a co mpany can make.
Our intense training pro gram ensures that we have a full pipeline o f skilled managers to fuel Lo we’s
aggressive gro wth.
Business pro cess impro vement initiatives are helping emplo yees wo rk smarter. Lo we’s strategically
po sitions emplo yees in each department to meet demand during peak sho pping ho urs. We are also
reducing time spent o n administrative tasks so emplo yees can increase the time they have available
to share their expertise and pro vide assistance to o ur custo mers.
Treating peo ple with dignity and respect has always been a part o f the way Lo we’s do es business. We
are leveraging the value of diversity and inclusio n to create a sho pping and wo rking enviro nment where
all peo ple feel welco med. In 2001, Lo we’s was named Co rpo ratio n o f the Year by two o rganizatio ns:
the So utheast Reg io n of the NAACP fo r co mmunity o utreach, and the North Caro lina Vo catio nal
Rehabilitatio n Agency fo r recruitment and retentio n of disabled emplo yees.
Lo we’s rewards emplo yees with a benefits package co nsidered o ne of the best in retail —co mpetitive
pay, incentives, sto ck o ptio ns, disco unted sto ck purchases and an Emplo yee Sto ck Ownership Plan.
As emplo yees excel in taking care o f the custo mer, they benefit fro m increased co ntributio ns to their
ESOP, and shareho lders win thro ugh enhanced earnings.
… WHO CARE ABOUT THEI R COMMUNI TI ES
As a respo nsible co rpo rate citizen, Lo we’s suppo rts charitable effo rts that help o ur co mmunities feel
safe and secure at ho me. A majo r spo nso r of disaster relief effo rts, Lo we’s has raised mo re than $1.5
millio n to help victims o f sto rms and flo o ds o ver the past three years. In additio n, with o ur emplo yees,
custo mers and vendo rs, Lo we’s raised mo re than $6 millio n in cash and pro duct fo r relief fo llo wing the
September 11 tragedy. And we demo nstrated the Po wer o f Pride with co mmunity events to suppo rt
America’s military families at ho me and abro ad.
Lo we’s helped turn the first sho vel o f dirt as a fo unding spo nso r o f the Natio nal Garden, a living,
o utdo o r museum adjacent to the U.S. Bo tanic Garden in the heart of the natio n’s capital. The Garden
is scheduled fo r co mpletio n in 2004.
Great service, low prices and a commitment
to our communities. We promise.