Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT dated as of January 28, 2001 between Carol Meyrowitz, whose
address is 8 Sylvan Avenue, West Newton, Massachusetts 02465, ("Executive") and
The TJX Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose principal office is in
Framingham, Massachusetts (the "Company").

     WHEREAS the Company and Executive are parties to an employment agreement
dated as of April 9, 1999 (the "Prior Agreement"), under which Executive has
served as an executive officer of the Marmaxx Group of the Company (the
"Group"); and

     WHEREAS the Company now desires that Executive serve as President of the
Group; and

     WHEREAS the Company and Executive desire to enter into this amended and
restated Agreement to reflect Executive's new responsibilities with the Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual
agreements hereinafter contained, agree as follows:

     1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company will employ Executive and Executive will be an
employee of the Company under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
This amended and restated Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior employment
agreement between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
divisions.

     2. TERM. This amended and restated Agreement shall become effective January
28, 2001 and shall continue until January 31, 2004 and thereafter until
terminated by either Executive or the Company, subject to earlier termination as
provided herein (such period of employment hereinafter called the "Employment
Period").

     3. DUTIES. Executive shall diligently perform the duties and exercise the
responsibilities of President of the Group and such additional executive duties
and responsibilities as shall from time to time be reasonably assigned to her by
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or by the Chairman of the Group.

     4. EXTENT OF SERVICES. Except for illnesses and vacation periods, Executive
shall devote substantially all her working time and attention and her best
efforts to the performance of her duties and responsibilities under this
Employment Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be
deemed to prevent or limit the right of Executive (a) to make any passive
investments where Executive is not obligated or required to, and shall not in
fact, devote any managerial efforts, (b) to participate in charitable or
community activities or in trade or professional organizations, or (c) subject
to approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or withdrawn), hold directorships in public
companies, except only that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall
have the right to limit such service as a director or such participation if the
Chief Executive Officer

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believes that the time spent on such activities infringes in any material
respect upon the time required by Executive for the performance of her duties
under this Agreement or is otherwise incompatible with those duties.

     5. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

     (a) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, Executive shall receive a
base salary at the rate of $700,000 per year or such higher amount as the
Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Committee") may determine after Committee review not less frequently than
annually; provided, that it is the current understanding and expectation of the
parties that Executive's initial rate of base salary will not be adjusted prior
to June 1, 2002. Base salary shall be payable in such manner and at such times
as the Company shall pay base salary to other executive employees.

     (b) MIP. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to
receive annual awards under the Company's Management Incentive Plan ("MIP"). To
the extent provided in Section 162(m) of the Code, the terms of any such award
shall be established annually by the Committee. Subject to the foregoing,
Executive shall be entitled to earn up to a specified percentage (not less than
55%) of Executive's Base Salary for the year if the target(s) established by the
Committee for Group and/or Company-wide performance is/are met and up to a
specified percentage (not less than 110%) of such Base Salary if such target(s)
is/are exceeded by a specified amount. Payments, if any, under MIP awards under
this subsection will be based on Group and/or Company-wide performance measures.
To the extent the material terms of MIP are required by law (including for this
purpose the rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service) to be
approved by the shareholders of the Company, Executive's eligibility to receive
annual awards under MIP for any year to which such shareholder vote pertains
shall be subject to such shareholder approval. The Company agrees to seek any
such required approval at the first meeting of Company shareholders following
the determination that such approval is required.

     (c) LRPIP. During the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to
participate in annual awards under the Company's Long Range Performance
Incentive Plan ("LRPIP"). To the extent provided in Section 162(m) of the Code,
the terms of any such award shall be established by the Committee based on Group
or Company-wide performance measures. Subject to the foregoing, Executive's
target award for the FYE 2002-2004 cycle under LRPIP will be $350,000, with the
payment potential ranging from zero dollars to $525,000, and for subsequent
LRPIP cycles Executive's target award will be not less than 50% of her Base
Salary as in effect at the beginning of the cycle and her maximum award
opportunity will be not less than 75% of such Base Salary, with the payment
potential ranging from 0% to not less than 75% of such Base Salary. To the
extent the material terms of LRPIP are required by law (including for this
purpose the rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service) to be
approved by the shareholders of the Company, Executive's eligibility to receive
awards under LRPIP for any cycle to which such shareholder vote pertains shall
be subject to such shareholder approval. The Company agrees to seek any such
required approval at the first meeting of Company shareholders following the
determination that such approval is required.

     For three year LRPIP cycles commencing prior to January 28, 2001, Executive
will be entitled to receive payments in accordance with the provisions of her
Prior Agreement.

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     (d) STOCK OPTIONS. During the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled
to participate in stock option awards pursuant to the Company's 1986 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended, or any successor plans (the "Plan"), at a level
commensurate with her position in the Company, but no less than 125,000 shares
annually.

     (e) SERP. Executive and the Company are parties to a separate Change of
Control Severance Agreement dated as of April 9, 1999, as amended by an
Agreement of even date herewith (as so amended, the "COC Agreement"). Except as
provided in the COC Agreement, Executive will be entitled to the greater of
Category B or C benefits determined and made payable in accordance with the
generally applicable provisions of the Company's Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan ("SERP"), including vesting requirements; provided, that
Executive shall at all times have a fully vested right to her accrued benefits,
including any future accruals, under SERP based on her actual years of service.
Executive will receive service credit for her period of prior employment with
the Company and its subsidiaries (including without limitation Executive's
employment prior to the effective date of the Prior Agreement).

     (f) RESTRICTED STOCK. Reference is made to the award of 48,980 shares of
Restricted Stock that was granted to Executive in 1999, pursuant to the Plan,
under the Prior Agreement (the "Restricted Shares"). In accordance with the
terms of such award, 75% of the Restricted Shares (the "2002 Shares") were
scheduled to vest on the completion of three years of service from May 3, 1999,
the date of commencement of Executive's employment under the Prior Agreement
(the "Original Start Date"), subject to certain employment conditions that were
set forth in the Prior Agreement, and the remaining 25% of the Restricted Shares
(the "2003 Shares") were scheduled to vest on the completion of four years of
service from the Original Start Date, subject again to certain employment
conditions set forth in the Prior Agreement. The vesting of the Restricted
Shares is hereby modified as follows:

          X    One-half (50%) of the 2002 Shares will vest on March 1, 2001,
               except that such shares will automatically vest upon any earlier
               (i) termination of employment hereunder by the Company other than
               for cause, disability or incapacity, other than any termination
               of employment hereunder by reason of death or (ii) termination by
               Executive within 30 days of the relocation of her principal place
               of employment more than 50 miles from her present residence
               ("Relocation Termination").

          X    The remaining one-half (50%) of the 2002 Shares will vest on the
               completion of three years of service from the Original Start
               Date, except that such shares will automatically vest upon any
               earlier (i) termination of employment hereunder by the Company
               other than for cause, disability or incapacity, other than any
               termination of employment hereunder by reason of death or (ii)
               Relocation Termination.

          X    In the event of termination of Executive's employment by reason
               of death, disability or incapacity occurring prior to the vesting
               of all of the 2002 Shares, Executive will vest in such shares on
               a pro rata basis based on the length of the

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               period of her employment (measured from the Original Start Date)
               in relation to the three-year period commencing on the Original
               Start Date.

          X    The 2003 Shares will vest upon completion of four years of
               service from the Original Start Date, except that such shares
               will automatically vest upon any earlier (i) termination of
               employment hereunder by the Company other than for cause,
               disability or incapacity, other than any termination of
               employment hereunder by reason of death or (ii) Relocation
               Termination.

          X    In the event of termination of Executive's employment by reason
               of death, disability or incapacity occurring prior to the vesting
               of all of the 2003 Shares, Executive will vest in such shares on
               a pro rata basis based on the length of the period of her
               employment (measured from the Original Start Date) in relation to
               the four-year period commencing on the Original Start Date.

     (g) FLEXPLUS. Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company's
FlexPlus Plan and other life insurance programs in accordance with the terms of
the Prior Agreement.

     (h) QUALIFIED PLANS; OTHER PLANS. Executive shall be entitled during the
Employment Period to participate in the Company's tax-qualified retirement and
profit-sharing plans and its General Deferred Compensation Plan and Executive
Savings Plan in accordance with the terms of those plans. Executive acknowledges
that under the current terms of the Executive Savings Plan, she is not entitled
to share in matching credits under that plan.

     (i) POLICIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS. Executive shall be subject to Company
policies applicable to its Executives generally and Executive shall be entitled
to receive all such fringe benefits as the Company shall from time to time make
available to other executives generally (subject to the terms of any applicable
fringe benefit plan).

     6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; IN GENERAL.

     (a) The Company shall have the right to end Executive's employment at any
time and for any reason, with or without cause. "Cause" means dishonesty by
Executive in the performance of her duties, conviction of a felony (other than a
conviction arising solely under a statutory provision imposing criminal
liability upon Executive on a per se basis due to the Company offices held by
Executive, so long as any act or omission of Executive with respect to such
matter was not taken or omitted in contravention of any applicable policy or
directive of the Board), gross neglect of duties (other than as a result of
disability (as defined below) or death) or conflict of interest which conflict
shall continue for 30 days after the Company gives written notice to Executive
requesting the cessation of such conflict.

     (b) The Employment Period shall terminate should the Executive become
entitled to receive long-term disability compensation pursuant to the Company's
long-term disability plan ("disability"). In addition, if by reason of any
disability (other than a disability as defined) or other impairment of health
that renders her unable to perform her duties to the satisfaction of the
Committee, Executive is unable to perform her duties for at least six continuous
months

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("incapacity"), upon written notice by the Company to Executive, the Employment
Period will be terminated for incapacity.

     (c) Whenever the Employment Period shall terminate, Executive shall resign
all offices or other positions she shall hold with the Company and any
subsidiaries or divisions of the Company.

     7. BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

     (a) CERTAIN TERMINATIONS ON OR PRIOR TO JANUARY 31, 2004. If the Employment
Period shall have terminated on or prior to January 31, 2004 by reason of (i)
death, disability or incapacity of Executive, (ii) termination by the Company
for any reason other than Cause, or (iii) termination by Executive in a
Relocation Termination, no compensation or other benefits shall be payable to or
accrue to Executive hereunder except as follows:

          (i) For the longer of twelve months after such termination or until
     January 31, 2004, the Company will continue to pay to Executive her base
     salary at the rate in effect at termination of employment. Base salary
     shall be paid for the first twelve months of the period without reduction
     for compensation earned from other employment or self-employment, and shall
     thereafter be reduced by such compensation.

          (ii) Until the expiration of the period of base salary payments
     described in (i) immediately above or until Executive shall commence other
     employment or self-employment, whichever shall first occur, the Company
     will provide such medical, hospital and dental insurance, long-term
     disability insurance and term life insurance for Executive and her family,
     comparable to the insurance provided for executives generally, as the
     Company shall reasonably determine in good faith, and upon the same terms
     and conditions as shall be provided for Company executives generally;
     provided, however, that in no event shall such benefits or the terms and
     conditions thereof be less favorable to Executive than those afforded to
     her as of the date of termination.

          (iii) The Company will pay to Executive or her legal representative,
     without offset for compensation earned from other employment or
     self-employment, (A) any amounts to which Executive is entitled under MIP
     for the fiscal year of the Company ended immediately prior to Executive's
     termination of employment, plus (B) any unpaid amounts owing with respect
     to LRPIP cycles in which Executive participated and which were completed
     prior to termination. These amounts will be paid at the same time as other
     awards for such prior year or cycle are paid.

          (iv) The Company will pay to Executive or her legal representative,
     without offset for compensation earned from other employment or
     self-employment, an amount in the nature of severance equal to the sum of
     (A) Executive's MIP Target Award, if any, for the year of termination,
     multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is three hundred and
     sixty-five (365) plus the number of days during such year prior to
     termination, and the denominator of which is seven hundred and thirty
     (730), plus (B) with respect to each LRPIP cycle in which Executive
     participated and which had not ended prior to termination of employment,
     1/36 of an amount equal to Executive's LRPIP

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     Target Award for such cycle multiplied by the number of full months in such
     cycle completed prior to termination of employment. The severance component
     described in clause (a)(iv)(A) above will be paid not later than MIP awards
     for the year of termination are paid. The severance component described in
     clause (a)(iv)(B) above, to the extent measured by the LRPIP Target Award
     for any cycle, will be paid not later than the date on which LRPIP awards
     for such cycle are paid or would have been paid. In no event shall the
     severance described in this paragraph be treated as paid under MIP or
     LRPIP.

Executive shall also be entitled to payments or benefits under other grants
hereunder (including the automatic vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock
referred to in the third bullet under Section 5(f) if such termination occurs
prior to full vesting of the 2002 Shares) and under other Company plans to the
extent, if any, therein provided in the circumstances.

     (b) CERTAIN TERMINATIONS AFTER JANUARY 31, 2004. If the Employment Period
shall have been terminated after January 31, 2004 (other than by reason of
death, disability or incapacity) (i) by the Company for any reason other than
Cause, or (ii) by Executive for a Relocation Termination, no compensation or
other benefits shall be payable to or accrue to Executive hereunder except as
follows:

          (i) The Company will continue to pay to Executive her then base salary
     for a period of twelve months from the date of termination, which base
     salary shall be reduced after six months for compensation earned from other
     employment or self-employment.

          (ii) Until the expiration of the period of base salary payments
     described in (i) immediately above or until Executive shall commence other
     employment or self-employment, whichever shall first occur, the Company
     will provide such medical and dental insurance (but not long-term
     disability insurance or life insurance) for Executive and her family,
     comparable to the insurance provided for executives generally, as the
     Company shall reasonably determine in good faith, and upon the same terms
     and conditions as shall be provided for the Company executives generally.

          (iii) Executive shall not be entitled to any MIP payment but shall be
     entitled to payment, if any, in the nature of severance equal to the
     payment she would have earned under MIP if her employment had continued
     until the end of the fiscal year (pro-rated for the period of active
     employment during such year).

Executive shall also be entitled to payments or benefits under other grants
hereunder and under other Company plans to the extent provided therein in the
circumstances.

     (c) TERMINATION AFTER JANUARY 31, 2004 BY REASON OF DEATH, DISABILITY OR
INCAPACITY. If the Employment Period shall terminate at any time after January
31, 2004 by reason of death, disability or incapacity, no compensation or other
benefits shall be payable to or accrue to Executive hereunder except as follows:

          (i) Executive shall not be entitled to any MIP payment but shall be
     entitled to payment, if any, in the nature of severance equal to the
     payment she would have earned

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     under MIP if her employment had continued until the end of the fiscal year
     (pro-rated for the period of active employment during such year).

          (ii) Executive shall also be entitled to payments or benefits under
     other grants hereunder and under other Company plans, including any
     long-term disability plan, to the extent therein provided in the
     circumstances.

     (d) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION; TERMINATION FOR CAUSE; VIOLATION OF CERTAIN
COVENANTS. If Executive should end her employment voluntarily (other than for a
Relocation Termination) or if the Company should end Executive's employment for
cause, or if Executive should violate the protected persons or noncompetition
provisions of Section 8, all compensation and benefits otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement shall cease. Executive shall be entitled to (i)
payment of accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other fully accrued but unpaid
benefits to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of any applicable
plan and (ii) such rights, if any, as shall be applicable in the circumstances
under the terms of any grant hereunder or any Company plan. The Company does not
waive any rights it may have for damages or for injunctive relief and, in
addition to any arbitration rights under Section 15, may pursue any claim for
injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.

     (e) EMPLOYMENT PERIOD NOT EXTENDED. If the Company determines not to extend
the Employment Period beyond January 31, 2004 or any extension thereof, or
offers to extend the Employment Period on terms less favorable to Executive than
those set forth herein, and Executive declines, it shall be deemed a termination
of the Employment Period by the Company pursuant to (a) above and, for the
avoidance of doubt, Executive shall not be subject to the provisions of Section
8(b) below. If Executive should choose not to continue her employment beyond
January 31, 2004 or any extension of the Employment Period, other than in
response to an offer by the Company to extend the Employment Period on terms
less favorable to Executive than those set forth herein, it shall be deemed a
voluntary termination by Executive and the provisions of (d) above shall apply.

     8. AGREEMENT NOT TO SOLICIT OR COMPETE.

     (a) Upon the termination of the Employment Period at any time for any
reason, then for a period of two years from the date of termination, Executive
shall not under any circumstances employ, solicit the employment of, or accept
unsolicited the services of, any "protected person" or recommend the employment
of any "protected person" to any other business organization in which Executive
has any direct or indirect interest (other than a less-than-one percent equity
interest in an entity), with which Executive is affiliated or for which
Executive renders any services. A "protected person" shall be a person known by
Executive to be employed by the Company or its subsidiaries at or within six
months prior to the commencement of conversations with such person with respect
to employment.

     As to (i) each "protected person" to whom the foregoing applies, (ii) each
subcategory of "protected person" as defined above, (iii) each limitation on (A)
employment of, (B) solicitation of, and (C) unsolicited acceptance of services
from, each "protected person" and (iv) each month of the period during which the
provisions of this subsection (a) apply to each of the foregoing, the provisions
set forth in this subsection (a) are deemed to be separate and independent

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agreements and in the event of unenforceability of any such agreement, such
unenforceable agreement shall be deemed automatically deleted from the
provisions hereof and such deletion shall not affect the enforceability of any
other provision of this subsection (a) or any other term of this Agreement.

     (b) During the course of her employment, Executive will have learned many
trade secrets of the Company and will have access to confidential information
and business plans of the Company. Therefore, if Executive should end her
employment voluntarily at any time, including by reason of retirement or
disability, or if the Company should end Executive's employment at any time for
cause, then for a period of two years thereafter, Executive will not engage,
either as a principal, employee, partner, consultant or investor (other than a
less-than-one percent equity interest in an entity), in a business which is a
competitor of the Company. A business shall be deemed a competitor of the
Company if and only (i) if it shall then be so regarded by retailers generally
or (ii) if it shall operate a promotional off-price family apparel store (such
as T.J. Maxx or Marshalls) within 10 miles of any "then existing" T.J. Maxx or
Marshalls store or (iii) if it shall operate an on-line, "e-commerce" or other
internet-based off-price family apparel business (such as T.J. Maxx or
Marshalls); provided, that a business shall be deemed a competitor of the
Company under clause (iii) only if the Company is then also operating an
on-line, "e-commerce" or other internet-based off-price family apparel business.
The term "then existing" in the previous sentence shall refer to any such
location that is, at the time of termination of the Employment Period, operated
by the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or under lease for
operation as aforesaid. Nothing herein shall restrict the right of Executive to
engage in a business that operates a conventional or full mark-up department
store. Executive agrees that if, at any time, pursuant to action of any court,
administrative or governmental body or other arbitral tribunal, the operation of
any part of this paragraph shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise
unenforceable, then the coverage of this paragraph shall be deemed to be
restricted as to duration, geographical scope or otherwise, to the extent, and
only to the extent, necessary to make this paragraph lawful and enforceable in
the particular jurisdiction in which such determination is made.

     If the Employment Period terminates, Executive agrees (i) to notify the
Company immediately upon her securing employment or becoming self-employed
during any period when Executive's compensation from the Company shall be
subject to reduction or her benefits provided by the Company shall be subject to
termination as provided in Section 7 and (ii) to furnish to the Company written
evidence of her compensation earned from any such employment or self-employment
as the Company shall from time to time reasonably request. In addition, upon
termination of the Employment Period for any reason other than death of
Executive, Executive shall immediately return all written trade secrets,
confidential information and business plans of the Company and shall execute a
certificate certifying that she has returned all such items in her possession or
under her control.

     9. RELATIONSHIP WITH COC AGREEMENT. Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control under Executive's COC Agreement, Executive's rights under MIP for the
fiscal year of such occurrence and her rights under LRPIP for the cycles then in
effect shall be governed by such agreement and not by this Agreement. Upon a
Qualified Termination under the COC Agreement, Executive's rights to base salary
continuation and under SERP shall be governed by such agreement and not by this
Agreement.

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     10. EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Executive acknowledges that she and the
Company have not entered into, and have not relied on any agreements or
representations, written or oral, express or implied, with respect to her
employment that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. In addition,
Executive acknowledges and represents that (a) she has fully disclosed to the
Company all prior employment agreements or understandings to which she is a
party or by which she is bound; and (b) she has not and will not disclose to the
Company or to any division thereof, or use for the benefit of the Company or any
division thereof, any trade secrets or proprietary information of any prior
employer.

     11. ASSIGNMENT. The rights and obligations of the Company shall inure to
the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the
Company. The rights and obligations of Executive are not assignable except only
that payments payable to her after her death shall be made to her estate.

     12. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall defend, indemnify and hold Executive
harmless of and from any and all amounts that may be claimed from Executive by,
or that may become due from Executive to, Brylane, Inc. or any of its affiliates
or successors ("Brylane") at any time (other than amounts for which she is
otherwise indemnified or insured), to the extent any such amount arises from the
making to Executive by the Company of any offer of employment, any acceptance by
Executive of any such offer of employment, the communication of the making of
such offer to Brylane or the taking of any action by Brylane arising therefrom.
Executive shall promptly notify the Company of any actual or potential amount as
to which Executive has or would have a right of indemnification hereunder (an
"Indemnifiable Matter"); provided that the failure to give such prompt notice
shall affect such indemnification rights only to the extent the Company is
prejudiced thereby. The Company shall have the right to control, defend and
settle any Indemnifiable Matter, including without limitation the right to
determine in good faith any and all actions to be taken by Executive in defense
of or otherwise regarding the Indemnifiable Matter in question and the right to
retain counsel of the Company's choice to represent Executive in regard to such
Indemnifiable Matter. The Company shall not effect a settlement of any claim
against Executive without Executive's prior written consent (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) unless the settlement includes a complete release
of the Executive with respect to such claim. In the event of any Indemnifiable
Matter, the Company shall be subrogated to all rights of Executive against
Brylane or any other third party in respect of such Indemnifiable Matter, and
such right of subrogation shall include without limitation the right to bring
actions, including arbitration proceedings, in Executive's name to enforce such
rights of Executive. Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company at the
Company's expense in the Company's exercise of its right of control and its
right of subrogation in respect of any Indemnifiable Matter and, in so
cooperating, in addition to and without limitation upon such other actions as
the Company may reasonably request, shall at the Company's request at the
Company's expense attend hearings and trials and reasonably assist in effecting
settlements, in securing and giving evidence, in obtaining the attendance of
witnesses and in conducting suits as to any Indemnifiable Matter, provided the
Company acts reasonably in accordance with the Executive's schedule.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions
of this Section 12 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

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     13. NOTICES. All notices and other communications required hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be given either by personal delivery or by mailing the
same by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.
If sent to the Company, the same shall be mailed to the Company at: 770
Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701, Attention: General Counsel, or other such
address as the Company may hereafter designate by notice to Executive; and if
sent to Executive, the same shall be mailed to Executive at her address set
forth above, or at such other address as Executive may hereafter designate by
notice to the Company, with a copy to:

                  Hale and Dorr LLP
                  60 State Street
                  Boston, MA 02109
                  Attn:  Hal Leibowitz, Esq.

Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

     14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.

     15. ARBITRATION. Except for claims or disputes failing within the last
sentence of this paragraph, in the event that there is any claim or dispute
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or an alleged breach thereof, and
the parties hereto shall not have resolved such claim or dispute within 60 days
after written notice from one party to the other setting forth the nature of
such claim or dispute, then such claim or dispute shall be settled exclusively
by binding arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts, in accordance with the Rules
Governing Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration
Association by an arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto or, in
the absence of such agreement within 15 days following a written request by
either party therefor, by an arbitrator selected according to such Rules, and
judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator shall be entered in any Court
having jurisdiction thereof upon the application of either party. Nothing in
this Section 15 shall prevent the Company or Executive from seeking interim
measures of protection in the form of pre-award attachment of assets or
preliminary or temporary equitable relief.

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     16. CERTAIN EXPENSES. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and
expenses of Executive's legal and financial advisors (not to exceed $6,000 in
the aggregate) incurred in negotiating this Agreement.

     In witness whereof the parties have entered into this Agreement as of
January 28, 2001.

                                     /s/ Carol Meyrowitz
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                     Carol Meyrowitz

                                     THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Edmond J. English
                                     ----------------------------------------

                                 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
                                        -------------------------------------

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.2

                                    AGREEMENT

     This Agreement is dated as of January 28, 2001 and is entered into by and
between Carol Meyrowitz, whose address is 8 Sylvan Avenue, West Newton,
Massachusetts 02465 ("Executive"), and The TJX Companies, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation, whose principal office is in Framingham, MA (the "Company").

     WHEREAS Executive and the Company are parties to a Change of Control
Severance Agreement dated as of April 9, 1999 (the "COC Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS Executive and the Company desire to amend the COC Agreement to
reflect certain change in Executive's employment agreement with the Company, and
certain other changes;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual
agreements hereinafter contained, agree as follows:

     1. The first paragraph of Section 1(b) of the COC Agreement (definition of
"Cause") is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

          ""Cause" means dishonesty by Executive in the performance of her
     duties, conviction of a felony (other than a conviction arising solely
     under a statutory provision imposing criminal liability upon Executive on a
     per se basis due to the Company offices held by Executive, so long as any
     act or omission of Executive with respect to such matter was not taken or
     omitted in contravention of any applicable policy or directive of the
     Board), gross neglect of duties (other than as a result of Disability or
     death), or conflict of interest which conflict shall continue for 30 days
     after the Company gives written notice to Executive requesting the
     cessation of such conflict."

     2. Section 1(i) of the COC Agreement (definition of "Incapacity") is hereby
amended by deleting the words "for at least six months in any twelve month
period" and replacing them with the words "for at least six continuous months".

     3. Section 1(k) (definition of "Qualified Termination") is hereby amended
by deleting from clause (II) of the definition of "good reason" the words ",
unless any further reduction represents an overall reduction in the Base Salary
paid or cash compensation opportunities made available, as the case may be, to
executives in the same organizational level (it being the Company's burden to
establish this fact)" and by deleting from clause (III) of the definition of
"good reason" the words ", unless the elimination or reduction of any such
benefit, perquisite or plan affects all other executives in the same
organizational level (it being the Company's burden to establish this fact)".

     4. The last paragraph of Section 2.1 (begins: "Payments under this Section
2.1 and Section 2.2 shall be made without regard . . .") is hereby deleted and
replaced in its entirety with the following:

          "Payments under this Section 2.1 and Section 2.2 below shall be made
     without regard to whether the deductibility of such payments (or any other
     payments or benefits to or for the benefit of Executive) would be limited
     or precluded by Section 280G of the Code ("Section 280G") and without
     regard to whether such payments (or any other payments or benefits) would
     subject Executive to the federal excise tax levied on certain "excess
     parachute payments" under Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"). If
     any portion of the payments or benefits to or for the benefit of Executive
     (including, but not limited to, payments and benefits under this Agreement
     but determined without regard to this paragraph) constitutes an "excess
     parachute payment"

<PAGE>   2

     within the meaning of Section 280G (the aggregate of such payments being
     hereinafter referred to as the "Excess Parachute Payments"), the Company
     shall promptly pay to Executive an additional amount (the "gross-up
     payment") that after reduction for all taxes (including but not limited to
     the Excise Tax) with respect to such gross-up payment equals the Excise Tax
     with respect to the Excess Parachute Payments. The determination as to
     whether Executive's payments and benefits include Excess Parachute Payments
     and, if so, the amount of such payments, the amount of any Excise Tax owed
     with respect thereto, and the amount of any gross-up payment shall be made
     at the Company's expense by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or by such other
     certified public accounting firm as the Committee may designate prior to a
     Change of Control (the "accounting firm"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
     if the Internal Revenue Service shall assert an Excise Tax liability that
     is higher than the Excise Tax (if any) determined by the accounting firm,
     the Company shall promptly augment the gross-up payment to address such
     higher Excise Tax liability."

     5. Section 2.2(i) is hereby amended by inserting a period after the words "
 . . . if higher)" and by inserting immediately after such period the following:
"In addition, the Company will pay to Executive an amount equal to such Target
Bonus prorated for the period of active employment during such fiscal year
through the Change of Control; and".

     6. Section 2.2(ii) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

          "(ii) if Executive is a participant in the Company's Long Range
     Management Incentive Plan ("LRMIP"), Long Range Performance Incentive Plan
     ("LRPIP") or any other performance-based long-range incentive plan at the
     Change of Control, an amount with respect to each Award Period (as that
     term is defined in LRMIP) or Performance Cycle (as that term is defined in
     LRPIP) for which Executive has been designated as a participant equal to
     the maximum award payable to Executive for such Award Period or Performance
     Cycle, as designated by the Committee under LRMIP or LRPIP, as the case may
     be (or, if Executive's title was changed to a level below that of
     Executive's Current Title within 180 days before the commencement of a
     Standstill Period, in the case of an Award Period or Performance Cycle
     which commences after such change, the maximum award payable to Executive
     for such Award Period or Performance Cycle shall be deemed to be the
     maximum award payable to Executive for the Award Period or Performance
     Cycle which commenced immediately prior to such change, if higher), unless
     Executive shall already have received payment of such amounts. Executive
     shall also be entitled to payment of unpaid amounts owing with respect to
     cycles completed prior to the Change of Control."

     7. Subject to the modifications set forth in paragraphs 1 through 7 above,
the COC Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by
its duly authorized officer and Executive has hereunto set her hand, all as of
the date first above written.

                                   THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.

                              By:  /s/ Edmond J. English
                                   -----------------------------

                                   /s/ Carol Meyrowitz
                                   -----------------------------
                                   Carol Meyrowitz

                                      -2-

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