from outside the company. As founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank write, " 'Associate' implies an equal as opposed to a wage slave. We value what the salesperson on the store floor says just as much--sometimes more--than what the district manager says.... The salesperson touches the customer more."(Built To Last 121) HR director Al Frost says the company's biggest challenge is developing its associates quickly enough to assume the abundant promotions arising from HD's rapid growth.
             The company's stock purchase plan tries to make "associates" of all employees. Everyone can buy stock at any time for a 15% discount off the company's stock price, set once a year. There's a payoff: While Home Depot won't release an exact turnover figure; a company spokesman says she believes it is as much as 20% below the retail
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