Careers

Welcome! The Douglas Stewart Company is the leading distributor and marketer of computer products, consumer electronics and school supplies:

• Exclusively serving the Education market…K–12 to higher education
• Specializing in product selection for education from school supplies to technology
• Providing superior value-added services to college stores to resellers

Our commitment to superior customer service, long-term relationships, product selection and unique channel marketing programs have established The Douglas Stewart Company as the preferred source for the most complete network of resellers who sell to faculty, staff and students of K–12 and high education institutions.

Our goal is to add value to both our vendors, the manufacturers and publishers who develop products, and to our resellers who sell those products to faculty, staff, and students. We link more than 10,000 products with over 2,500 resellers in the United States and Canada. Long–standing relationships with our vendors allow us to offer quality, education–specific products and marketing services for resellers. Our U.K. subsidiary, Douglas Stewart EDU Limited, provides the same level of distribution and marketing services to vendors and resellers in Europe.

History

The Douglas Stewart Company (DSC) began in 1950 as spouses Douglas and Jean Stewart created the company from scratch in their own home. Now, more than 60 years later, The Douglas Stewart Company and its employees continue the successful traditions and grow in new directions!

Friendly People

DSC employs 135 people domestically and has growing operations in Canada and the European Union. One of the most distinguishing marks of DSC is truly its people. We have a talented, friendly group of people that enjoy delivering products and services to our clients.

First Name Basis

Everyone, from the most recently hired person to the CEO, goes by their first name and our telephone directory is in first name order. Cheryl Rosen Weston, CEO and Chair, strongly supports the informal family atmosphere.

Rewarding Work

Employees are focused on being the leading provider of value-added marketing services and distribution of school supplies, consumer electronics and computer related products to the education market in the United States-and now Canada and Europe.

Community Matching Contributions

The Douglas Stewart Company supports the communities in which its employees live. We encourage employee involvement and have group activities in the community. In addition to matching employee pledges for the United Way and Community Shares of Wisconsin, DSC will match employee monetary donations to most tax-deductible organizations.

Cultural Examples

As you read through this brochure you will see other examples of why these employees and this company are successful. Everything is focused on the success and interdependence of the employees and the company.

Insurance

Elected insurance benefits take effect 30 days after hire.

Health Insurance

We offer two plans from leading area health insurance provider Physicians Plus. We offer a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan for employees living within the Unity Health Insurance Network and a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan for employees living outside the network.

Premiums are partially paid by the employee with most of the premium paid by DSC. Employees pay 20% - 25% of the premium depending upon the tier selected. Employee-Only coverage costs $36 (PPO $40.02) per pay check. Employee+1 or more coverage ranges from $68.21 to $116.72 per pay check (PPO $81.86-$140.06), depending upon the tier you select.

Our HMO plan has NO deductibles or co-insurance for in-network services. The typical out-of-pocket expenses are copays for office visits ($10.00 for age 18+, zero co-pay for under 18 years of age) or prescriptions copay plan of $10/$25/$50. There may be copays for out-patient MRIs, emergency room service, and other events. Medical insurance deductions are pre-tax deductions to save you more money. The PPO Plan does have $250/$500 deductibles and coinsurance of 20% up to $1,000/$2,000 depending upon the tier you select.

Flexible Spending Accounts & Pre-Tax Deductions (FSA, Section 125)

Pre-tax, Health and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are available to help defray income taxes on reimbursable costs and reduce the employee's tax burden. Enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts occurs at time of hire and just before a new plan year. FSAs are federally regulated plans. The big advantage is the tax savings on qualified reimbursable medical, dental or vision expenses. For example, laser eye surgery, could cost $3,500. You can save the income tax on that $3,500 with an FSA. The employer pays the administrative costs of an FSA so it is a no-cost benefit for the employee.

Term Life Insurance

DSC pays for group term life insurance for eligible employees in the amount of 1 times their annual base pay.

Optional Term Life Insurance

Optional additional term life is available in pre-set amounts ranging up to $300,000.00, or four times base pay, whichever is lower. Dependent life insurance options are also available.

Vision Insurance

This is an employee-optional plan that provides up to $150 for frames and $125 for lenses per year.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance is provided by DSC at no cost to the employee in the amount of one times annual base pay.

Short Term Disability Insurance

Short Term Disability (STD) insurance is employee-paid and covers 66.7% of their total compensation. STD benefits begins on 1st day of an accident and 8th day of an illness and may last up to six months. STD deductions are pre-tax deductions.

Long Term Disability Insurance

Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance is provided by DSC after a one year initial eligibility waiting period. Normally, LTD benefits begin after STD has expired and pays 66.7% of base compensation. LTD benefits may last up to retirement age for “own-occupation” disability.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Workers' Compensation Insurance is funded by DSC and available to eligible employees if they become ill or injured as a result of their work responsibilities.

Unemployment Compensation Insurance

Unemployment Compensation Insurance is funded by DSC and available to all eligible employees based on their particular state’s insurance requirements and the reasons for the departure.

Retirement Savings

Tax-Deferred Savings 401(k)

The Tax-Deferred Savings plan, also known as a 401(k) Plan or the Retirement Plan, is a great way to save for your retirement and lower your tax burden at the same time! You can save up to 75% of your compensation with a maximum of $15,500 in 2008. And the Catch-Up Clause allows people 50 years of age and older in any year to save an additional $5,000 in 2008.

We have a great selection of investment opportunities in cash, bonds, and stocks to help you prepare for retirement. You can join the plan after three months of employment. New employees can rollover money from your previous employer's qualified plan even before being eligible for payroll deductions.

Your earnings increase significantly with the annual discretionary company match up to 4% of pay @ .50 cents per dollar, profits permitting.

Workforce Development

Wellness

Wellness initiatives are introduced to support employee health, preventive health care, and wellness for the long-term, not just the latest fad.

Training

DSC believes strongly in developing its workforce for the future. In addition to courses held within DSC, webinars, seminars, conferences, and more are available with supervisory approval and company initiatives.

Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement is possible after working two years and in an approved course or degree program.

Time Off

Holidays

We have seven paid holidays including six national holidays and one floating holiday. The floating holiday is used to fill in gaps when the calendar causes scheduling conflicts with other major holidays (e.g., Christmas and New Years Day on a Tuesday). Hourly employees will be paid their current hourly rate for holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday or a workday off at the company's option. ¾- and ½-time employees will receive holiday pay on a pro-rated basis.

Vacation Days

Paid vacation is accumulated as follows for full-time employees and on a proportionate basis for ¾- and ½-time employees as follows:

• Year 1 of employment ½ day per month (6 days per year)
• Years 2-5 of employment 1 day per month (12 days per year)
• Years 6+ of employment 1.5 days per month (18 days per year)

Personal Days

Two additional personal days are granted each calendar year for use in recognizing personal holidays or as additional time for rest and relaxation. Personal hours are pro-rated in the first year based on the calendar quarter in which a new employee is hired. ¾- and ½-time employees accumulate personal holidays on a proportionate basis.

Sick Days

Employees earn sick leave at a rate of one-half day per month (six days per year) for employee illness, medical and dental appointments, injury, maternity, or exposure to disease. Sick leave can also be used for temporary or emergency care of an ill or injured family or household member for a period not to exceed five days. Part-time employees earn proportionate sick leave.

Leaves of Absence

Federal and State Family & Medical Leave Family and Medical Leave is available subject to federal and/or state laws. Absence for extended medical or family leave may be charged to paid time off for up to six weeks under State law.

Jury Duty Leave

Jury duty is a matter of civic obligation fully supported by DSC. Employees called for jury duty will be paid for their period of absence, less any jury fee received.

Funeral Leave

Up to three days paid funeral leave for immediate family and up to one paid day for other relatives as described in the employee handbook.

Military Leaves

DSC is proud of all men and women who serve in our Armed Forces and fully supports their efforts to maintain freedom. Employee members of the National Guard, Air National Guard or any reserve component of the Armed Forces are granted unpaid leave for actual military duty/training, without loss of benefits.

More Benefits

Free Parking

Plentiful free parking is available to all employees.

Mass Transit

Madison Metro bus routes 37 & 39 have stops near our headquarters.

Employee Discounts

Employees can purchase the wide variety of vendor products in the DSC catalog.

Fully Equipped Kitchen & Break Room

Our Break Room has three refrigerators, sink, a stove/oven, microwaves, free coffee, vending machines, ice machine, change machine, and three individual conference rooms. Company financial performance, Career opportunities, and other official announcements are posted here.

We have a large screen tv monitor used as a visual newsletter to keep employees informed about events and activities in and around DSC.

Compensation

Pay Day

Pay days occur on a biweekly Fridays. Your earnings are deposited directly into your bank account(s) before you wake up on payday and you receive a complete direct deposit advice with all of the relevant payroll data.

Direct Deposit

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), also known as Direct Deposit, allows you to deposit your pay check in your checking, savings, IRA, or investment accounts, up to 8 accounts! Begin saving for the new car or big vacation!

Sales Commissions

Sales Account Managers receive commissions and payments for achieving specific objectives throughout the year.

Trimester Bonus Plan

Most employees are covered within the Trimester Bonus Plan that pays based on company performance for the Trimester (3 four-month periods each year). If and when payments are made, the payments occur in May, August & December for the prior trimester. This plan is valued at up to $1,500 to $2,200 per year based on company performance and length of service!

Customer Service & Licensing Bonus

The Customer Service Dept. and the Licensing Dept. have a monthly bonus plan focused on continual business improvement.

Supervisor and Manager Bonus Plans

The Supervisor and Manager Bonus Plans are annual plans based on individual and company performance.