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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With close to 40,000 troops expected to return from Iraq by the end of 2011(i) and the recent passing of the VOW to ,(ii) a bipartisan-supported national bill to encourage businesses to hire military veterans, Sears Holdings is calling on all companies to do their part on an issue where the retail giant leads by example.

Sears Holdings recently committed to increase its by 10 percent over the next year, and it has been living up to its word. To-date in 2011, Sears has hired 1,636 military members – up more than 200 percent from 2010 -- 927 of whom were hired between Aug. 1 and Nov. 7 alone.

"With so many military members returning home, the support need increases accordingly, especially during the holiday season," said David Works, a Navy veteran and SVP and president, Human Resources at Sears Holdings. "Sears has long made supporting U.S. veterans a priority throughout the organization – from numerous hiring initiatives and military-friendly policies to our program and holiday . We are committed to providing resources for as many of our returning heroes as possible, in order to empower them and help better their lives."

Consistent with its aggressive goals, Sears Holdings currently employs more than 30,000 U.S veterans, with more than 1,500 still serving in the National Guard and reserves, and thousands of military spouses. The Sears Associate Military Support Group helps maintain a positive work environment for these employees.

"Hiring veterans is not goodwill, it's good business," Works said. "Veterans provide our workforce with a high-level skill set built through brave service to America. They bring the advantages of being immersed in a training environment, and their technical skills, strengths in strategic thinking, and versatility are just a few of the very tangible talents that make them valuable to any employer."

Another Sears Holdings policy - so military-friendly that it generates year-round inquiries about its validity - is the company's offer of a military pay differential to its full-time associates who are reservists, serving on active duty. Reservists who are employed full-time are allowed to continue participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs.

"We're humbled by how many calls and emails we receive about the military pay differential policy," Works said. "These people are amazing employees and it's the right thing to do to retain them in our ranks."

Via its long-standing program, Sears has supported U.S. soldiers, by rebuilding homes for veterans and providing gift cards to active service members during the holidays. Since its inception in 2007, the Sears Heroes at Home program has raised more than $30 million to help renovate 1,000 homes and improve the lives of more than 62,000 families.

Visit SearsHoldings.com for more information and for ways to contribute to its vital efforts to support the country's soldiers.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at . |Twitter: @searsholdings | |Facebook: .

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SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation