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our crowded marketplace, many companies offer the same products and services
that Office Depot provides. In 2001, our Company made great strides in creating
a competitive distinction that is difficult to replicate—a winning
culture founded on three guiding principles: respect for the individual,
fanatical customer service and excellence in execution. As we seek to achieve
long-term growth and profitability, we recognize that our most valuable
asset is our workforce, and that our people make Office Depot a more compelling
place to shop each day. • The way we recognize the value of our employees
is by creating a compelling place to work. Research indicates that employees
who are satisfied with their position, management and benefits provide the
highest levels of customer service and exhibit the lowest levels of turnover.
With this in mind, we’re working to make Office Depot a place where
our employees want to remain. Our mission is to foster a culture that ensures
managers earn the trust of their employees by treating them with respect,
valuing their work, soliciting their opinions, and demonstrating that they
care about them both professionally and personally. •
In 2001, we accelerated our progress toward achieving these goals by initiating
a transformation process that enables senior managers to communicate Office
Depot’s growth strategies to all levels of the organization, while
soliciting detailed feedback to ensure our plans are on track. We set the
foundation for a new learning management system, available via our corporate
Intranet, for employees to hone their skills. In addition, we enhanced the
offerings on our corporate Web site to provide new opportunities for employee
collaboration. • We also developed a series
of diversity programs in 2001, geared to create opportunities for all employees,
regardless of race, gender or other classification. In doing so, we have
established a workplace that fosters a fair and productive work environment
where all employees can feel comfortable, pursue job opportunities and realize
their full potential. • Our workplace
improvement initiatives have already begun to change the face of the Office
Depot workforce, increasing employee morale and encouraging our continued
commitment to this effort. During 2001, employee turnover declined 29 percent,
and employee surveys indicate that Office Depot is indeed becoming a more
compelling place to work. |
