More than 5,000 Express Associates Impacted by Hurricanes
OKLAHOMA CITY - September 15, 2017
Express Headquarters Offers Program for Support
Catastrophic hurricanes Harvey and Irma recently roared through Texas and the southeastern United States, leaving behind a trail of destruction and many Express employees stranded without a way to get to work. Recognizing the need to help families get back on their feet, Express Employment Professionals is now offering a program that will help associates make up funds they lost due to the storms.
At Express, our first priority is to ensure our associates have a way to provide for their families. Associates who were on our payroll, yet unable to work in the days following hurricane Harvey and Irma, can participate in the program.
When eligible associates in the impacted areas return to work for Express, for every two (2) days on assignment, the associate will, in addition, be compensated for one (1) day of missed pay. This program will continue until the associate has earned back the days of pay missed as a direct result of the storms. Funds for missed pay are provided entirely by Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters at no expense to our client companies.
"Express is focused on supporting the needs of our associates, recognizing the hardships they are experiencing in the face of this storm," said Bob Funk, CEO of Express.
Mark Conrad, Express office owner in Friendswood, Galveston City, and Houston, Texas, has spent the last few weeks helping tear down sheetrock and clean up debris at friends' homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
"This is a phenomenal program to put forward for those who were impacted, for sure," he said. "This program wasn't expected, but it is greatly appreciated."
Nearly 100 of Conrad's Express associates couldn't get to work because of the loss of a home or car, so Conrad and his staff coordinated ride sharing and collecting clothes for affected families.
"The first thing my staff did was check in with associates to see where they were and if they were safe," he said.
"Then, they brought the idea of a clothing drive forward."
Houston Express office owner Katy Kyle said one associate teared up when they heard about the hurricane relief program because they lost everything in the storm.
"No one can believe that Express is offering this program," she said. "Most of our associates really need the support. I can't tell you how much it warmed our hearts."
Kyle added that owning a local Express franchise in a system with nearly 800 offices is more like a family than some may think, and this program is a testament to the caring culture at Express.
"It has been a very sad couple of weeks, so to be able to give back and to have support from our international headquarters is really nice," she said.
Express office owner David Sellari, of Orlando, Florida, said several of his internal employees and clients lost power and were still waiting for it to return almost a week after Hurricane Irma hit. He is looking forward to introducing the hurricane relief program to associates this coming week.
"I think it's an outstanding offer," he said. "That's what we need to do as small business owners. We need to get involved in the community and show our support."
###
If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bob Funk to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.
About Robert A. Funk
Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 770 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve and was also the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.