In the U.S. and Canada, we have seven active Associate Resource Groups organized for networking, development, and support for Associates at our corporate headquarters and in our Loss Prevention (LP) department. Our Associate Resource Groups sponsor educational, volunteer, and social events in a comfortable venue.
While informal, these groups are also well organized with a dedicated focus on a business objective and an inclusion goal. Each Associate Resource Group develops an annual business plan describing how it will support our business, and each group has a voice in community relations initiatives. In addition, our Associate Resource Groups are provided an annual operating budget, money for charitable giving and/or community programs, a liaison from Human Resources, and an executive sponsor. The groups host a wide range of events each year, including educational programming for group members as well as for the general Association population, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising initiatives.