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Frank L. Vandersloot, President and CEO of Eastern Idaho’s largest private employer, Melaleuca made a huge announcement this week that will affect all of its employees in these tough economic times. But the announcement is a bit different than most of the ones we’ve heard on the news lately. This was good news.

Vandersloot made a promise to his employees that Melaleuca, the direct sales company that manufactures health and wellness products will NOT lay off any employees. As he put it himself, “We’re promising our employees no layoffs. Not today, not tomorrow, not next month, not ever,” said Melaleuca President and CEO Frank L. VanderSloot.

VanderSloot wants to make sure that while he understands that times are tough, he does not want any of his employees to worry about their jobs. Vandersloot reiterated the fact that one of the key components of Melaleuca’s business model is to take care of not only their customers, but also their employees.

VanderSloot spoke to his 2500 Eastern Idaho workers this week about the company’s economic conditions saying that even though overall the company has held up, they are definitely feeling the strain of what is happening with the economy. “Our bottom line is being strained,” said VanderSloot. “Even though we’re growing on the top line, expenses are hitting us like they’ve never hit us before.”

As part of a new incentive program, and to keep morale high, the company gave out $1.7 million dollars in cash to its long term workers. So far over $8 million dollars in cash has been given out this year in longevity bonuses.

Employees receive 5000 dollars on their five year anniversary, 10,000 on their 10 year, 20,000 on their 20, and on up.

Melaleuca did over $800 million in sales last year and despite tough times, is expected to do even better this year.

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Unbeknownst to the public, health and Wellness Company, Melaleuca, has been embroiled in a lawsuit with a former employee over allegations that the ex employee violated a separation agreement after leaving the company and recruiting key employees. Melaleuca, afraid that pertinent, private info would be released if the case went public has worked hard to keep the courtroom doors closed.

The lawsuit stems from a case filed against Jeff Wasden, Melaleuca’s former VP of Marketing. Melaleuca claims that after leaving the company, Wasden violated separation agreements by hiring other key Melaleuca employees. Wasden denies these claims and filed a counter claim against Melaleuca CEO and President Frank VanderSloot claiming breach of contract and character defamation.

In the most recent development, Melaleuca sought this week to disqualify Wasden’s lawyer, Ron Swafford claiming that he is keeping copies of tapes that were “surreptitiously” recorded by a former employee of Melaleuca and current employee of Wasden.

It’s all very confusing, but apparently earlier in the summer Melaleuca’s in house counsel interviewed an employee who later went to work for Wasden. That ex-employee without telling the lawyer, recorded that conversation and gave a tape of it to Swafford. There are also claims that that same ex-employee gave Swafford 200 pages of protected information. Melaleuca claims that requests for the return of those documents have been unanswered.

Swafford now has 20 days to respond to these claims and then Melaleuca has 10 days to respond to Swaffords submission.

Aside from this battle, there have been many other back and forth regarding proprietary information that Melaleuca refuses to share, argument over a closed or open trial, claims that the in house counsel at Melaleuca is making it impossible for Swafford to investigate his own case and accusations that Melaleuca’s counsel is not complying with requests for certain company records.

Apparently, requests for the dismissal of a lawyer are extremely rare, but it seems that this case is a pretty messy one on all fronts. Despite Melaleuca’s efforts to the trial keep hush hush, it seems that the case will not go away any time soon. All of the facts are a bit confusing, but we will keep you up to date as the case moves forward.

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Melaleuca, who has traditionally focused on improving quality of life has found a new way to improve the lives of their customers, by protecting their identity. Melaleuca has just partnered with LifeLock to offer each of their members the added feature of identity protection.

The Federal Trade Commission says that identity theft accounts for more than 32% percent of all fraud and identity theft complaints in the United States. Melaleuca felt that it was important to meet the rising demands of protecting the identity of their half a million members.

The 23 year old company, based in Idaho, formed a partnership with LifeLock that will allow members to take advantage of identity theft protection packages that will be offered to them at discounted rates.

“The need to educate consumers of the fast growing crime of identity theft is more urgent than ever. LifeLock’s identity theft protection has always been on the forefront of providing the public knowledge and peace of mind. Our partnership with Melaleuca will allow LifeLock to continue to educate more consumers,” said LifeLock CEO Todd Davis.

LifeLock, a leader in identity theft protection since 2005, requests on the behalf of their clients, fraud alerts on all credit files as well as the removal of their members names from junk mail lists and pre –approved credit card offers. LifeLock also offers several other services meant to protect identity such as WalletLock and TrueAddress, services that will protect all aspects of each members personal and financial information.

LifeLock famously offers a 1 million dollar guarantee on services, and although there have been some reports of flaws in the system, feedback has been fairly positive. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and it’s great to see this company protect their valuable customers by offering this service and ensuring that their identity will be protected when they do business online with the company.

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Melaleuca President and CEO, Frank Vandersloot, has unveiled the vitamin supplement company’s newest product, one that he says will be revolutionary and change the supplement industry forever.

Vandersloot made the announcement this past week in front of thousands of Melaleuca representatives. The new line called “Vitality” contains Oligofructose Complex which helps keep anti-oxidants inside of the body. “We’ve never announced any product as a big breakthrough. This is a breakthrough,” said Vandersloot.

The company has been working on the project for years now, and with the help of scientist from George Washington University, they finally developed the revolutionary product that they say will help you live longer, and fight off diseases.

For years, people have been taking vitamins and mineral to increase the disease fighting anti-oxidants in our body, but recent studies show many of the vitamins and nutrients people take on a daily basis actually fight off anti-oxidants and destroy them within the body. That is where Melaleuca’s new product comes in. The company, along with scientists, has found a way to deliver the vitamins and nutrients people need without harming disease fighting antioxidants.

Melaleuca has a patent pending on the product, and the company plans to publish its findings in the near future. The company makes a firm claim that the Oligofructose Complex is the best mineral supplement available today to help the body absorb antioxidants into the bloodstream.

“It will make a lot of difference in people’s lives if they can get the right protection rather than the kind that they think they’re getting,” said Vandersloot.

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