our people

Our people are some of the most knowledgeable in the business and they provide the best service anywhere. Borders Group's commitment to creating an inviting work environment makes Borders and Waldenbooks the preferred place to shop for books, music, movies, gifts, and more. Our employees embrace the positive work environment and inviting atmosphere found at Borders Group.

We know it. Our customers experience it.
More than 25,000 dedicated employees support the operations of Borders and Waldenbooks stores across the country. In the field and in the corporate office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the areas of work include store operations, merchandising, marketing, human resources, IT, finance, and real estate.

To ensure that the books, music, and movies our customers love are ready and waiting on the shelves, Borders Group also operates fulfillment and distribution facilities located in Mira Loma, California; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and LaVergne, Tennessee.

Open-Door Policy
Borders Group's appreciation for its people begins at the highest level of the company. The top executives' doors and email boxes are always open to employees who want to share ideas and concerns. The collaborative atmosphere allows for the interaction of employees at all levels. The Borders culture fosters a workforce of approachable people, where every question is addressed and all suggestions are welcomed.

Each year, the executives of Waldenbooks and Borders stores travel around the nation to visit our stores, check in with employees, and gather questions, concerns, and ideas from the field. Their efforts to stay in touch set a positive tone across the company and result in a greater understanding of our customers and those who serve them throughout the organization.

Recognition
Each individual at Borders Group is important to our collective success. Our company is committed to strengthening the "value of employment" for all Borders Group employees because we know that job satisfaction ultimately translates to a better experience for our customers. That's why we position our stores as not only the preferred place to shop, but also as the preferred place to work. Through our Borders Group Recognition programs, we extend a public "thank you" to individuals who make a difference.

Corporate Office
Annual Excellence Awards recognize all corporate employees through the officer level, whose performance consistently supports Borders Group's competencies, which focus on people, product/services and performance.

Quarterly Service Recognition Lanyards are utilized to reward individuals who have celebrated at least five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of continuous employment.

Monthly Driven Employee Award recognizes employees whose exemplary efforts and behaviors drive our success as a company.

Literary Thank You Cards with inspirational quotes and a handwritten message are presented by managers to employees for spontaneous recognition.

On-The-Spot Awards are one way for employees to spontaneously recognize one another, and may include an On-the-Spot award certificate and/or a small gift.

Walking the Talk Awards are peer recognition that is published in Bookmark, the company's employee portal, to honor those who have made a significant personal contribution.

Field
The annual David H. Carpenter Award and the Quarterly Individual Service Award honor individual contributors who demonstrate a passion for sales, shrink control, service, and contribution, among other criteria.

Annual and Quarterly Superstore and Specialty Retail Team Awards reward stores for achieving results through teamwork, in the areas of sales, service, and contribution.

Annual Excellence Awards honor employees at the annual General Managers' meeting in the categories of sales, profit improvement, service, community spirit and diversity, audit, shrink, training, leadership, and project contribution.

The Richard L. Flanagan Leadership Award, named in memory of the former president of Borders stores, honors Borders' field management who demonstrate the leadership skills for which Rich Flanagan was known and respected.

Quarterly Service Recognition Lanyards are utilized to reward individuals who have celebrated at least five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of continuous employment.

Diversity
Borders Group's success can be measured by the power of its individuals multiplied. As a company, we value having employees and customers whose backgrounds and perspectives are as diverse as the communities we serve.

Visit our Diversity page to learn how Borders is a corporate leader in diversity practices.

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