Walgreens 2005 Annual Report Download - page 13

When Lachell Wardell walked into a Walgreen
pharmacy in Chicago eight years ago, she was so
impressed with the counseling she received that she
asked for a job application. “I had no idea what it would
take to become a pharmacist,” says Wardell. “But I
thought Walgreens would be a great place to work.”
Wardell had no high school diploma and three
children under the age of 10, but she persevered to
earn her high school equivalency degree, complete
her pharmacy school prerequisites and enter the
University of Illinois pharmacy school. Last summer,
Wardell received her PharmD degree and is now
working as a pharmacist in Chicago. “Yes, it was
tough,” she says. “But I made it through with help
from Walgreens.”
We created 15,700 jobs in 2005, while promoting
744 employees to store manager
Our support for Wardell’s accomplishment is one
example of how Walgreens helps pharmacy employees.
Beyond that, we have many training programs for
employees in our stores, pharmacies and support areas.
Our Emerging Leader program is designed to
prepare high-potential store managers for higher
level positions. It provides exposure to district manager
responsibilities, as well as developing leadership,
strategic and motivational skills. This program
supports our policy to hire from within, which
differentiates us from most competitors.
Today, Walgreens doesn’t have a single store
manager, district manager or operations vice president
who didn’t start his or her career as a store employee.
Our average years of service are 12.6 for store managers,
20.3 for district managers and 28.2 for operations
vice presidents.
Most training for store employees, including
photo specialists, service
clerks and pharmacy
technicians, combines
on-the-job training
with computer-based
skill-building modules
that stress customer
service essentials.
Walgreens is particularly
committed to pharmacy
technician training.
More than 63 percent of our
technicians have passed a
national certification exam.
Beyond career opportunities,
the Walgreen Benefit Fund, a
tax-exempt foundation, helps
employees in financial need.
The fund, started in 1939 by
founder Charles Walgreen Sr.,
granted $1.5 million to employees and retirees in fiscal
2005. In just the first few months of fiscal 2006, nearly
$500,000 has been provided to hurricane victims.
Lachell Wardell was a single mom without a high school
diploma when she decided to become a Walgreen pharmacist.
2005 Annual Report 11
Walgreens contributed
$2.2 million to the American
Cancer Society in fiscal 2005
through customer purchases of
paper “Blooms” and the efforts
of hundreds of employees who
walked in the Society’s “Relay for
Life” events, like the one pictured
here in Lake Zurich, Illinois.
Management Pipeline
Average years of service
Young at 104
We’re a 104-year-old company with a median store age
of 5.4 years. Double that (plus!) and you have the average
Walgreen experience of store managers – 12.6 years. Store Managers 12.6
District Managers 20.3
Store Operations VPs 28.2