As Home Depot proudly states on its Web site, they have employed 570 Olympic hopefuls since they started the Olympic Job Opportunity Program in 1992. That will all change as of March 2, when the company discontinues the program. They dropped their sponsorship of the USOC, so why keep around the employment program?

Maybe because it's the right thing to do.

The attractive part of working for Home Depot for many Olympic athletes was that they were given a steady stream of income and a flexible schedule. They could leave for competition and know that their job was still there when they returned home.

The athletes will be given a chance to keep their jobs, but without the flexibility, there is not much of a point. Does it hurt that much to keep the program going for the small percentage of employees who are in the program? 

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