Best Buy Receives 2008 New Freedom Initiative Award

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) received the Secretary of Labor’s 2008 New Freedom Initiative Award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in honor of outstanding efforts and commitment to improving the workplace for Best Buy® employees and customers with disabilities. The Minnesota-based company is the first corporation in the state to receive the award.

This award recognizes the efforts of INCLUDE, an Employee Business Network (EBN or affinity group) operating inside of Best Buy helping build its disability-inclusive culture. The grassroots, cross-functional business group gained quick credibility inside the company by implementing meaningful changes in stores which benefited employees and customers.

"The best thing about this recognition is that the great ideas came from our own employees who intimately understood, and continue to understand, the opportunities. They’re improving productivity of our employees and improving our customers experiences by addressing everything from subtitling our training DVDs, to covering hearing aids in our company health insurance plans, to collaborating with organizations to develop relationships with new customers and potential employees,” said John Pershing, executive vice president of human capital for Best Buy.

Brendon Cunningham, a Best Buy district business manager in the Washington, D.C., area, sustained a spinal cord injury. "During my recovery Best Buy asked what it could do to help, and I mentioned how I wanted to eventually return to work,” he said. "They outfitted me with a laptop, the software that helped me to work from home, and modified my store with keyless entry locks and doors for my return. I think it’s amazing how a big company is willing to make accommodations for a single individual.”

The New Freedom Initiative Award was introduced by President George W. Bush in 2001 as a government-wide effort to expand on the Americans with Disabilities Act and fight false perceptions that hinder people living with disabilities from joining the workforce. In conjunction with these initiatives, President Bush proclaimed October 2008 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $40 billion annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately 165,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2008, we donated a combined $31.8 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.