our people

What are some of the values of employment with Borders Group?

• Interesting books everywhere you look.
• Discovering first-time authors.
• Recommending your favorite new CDs.
• Sharing tips on latest DVD releases.
• Indulging in your passion for books, music, and movies.

That's what working at Borders and Waldenbooks is all about. 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 our stores 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. In fact, surveys of our own employees confirm that Borders Group is a great place to work.

We know it. Our customers experience it.
More than 30,000 dedicated employees support the operations of Borders and Waldenbooks stores across the country and throughout the world. 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, real estate, and development.

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 across the country including a new Northeast Distribution Center in Carlisle, PA.

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 and the world 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 Core Values Awards recognize all corporate employees through the vice president level, whose actions consistently support Borders Group's Core Values.

Annual Leadership Awards showcase our corporate leaders, supervisor through vice president level, whose leadership drives results.

Quarterly Service Recognition Lanyards are utilized to reward individuals who have celebrated at least five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, or thirty 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 is peer recognition that is published in The Beat, the company's daily email newsletter, to honor those who have made a significant personal contribution.

Field
Annual, Quarterly and Monthly Individual Service Award honors individual contributors who demonstrate a passion for sales, service and contribution.

Annual, Quarterly and Monthly Top Team Performance Award rewards stores for achieving results through teamwork, in the areas of sales, service and contribution.

The David H. Carpenter Award, named in memory of a beloved Borders leader, honors employees who exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

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, or thirty 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.

Looking for a job that will indulge your passion for books, music, and movies? Visit our Careers section.