Workforce Readiness: Veterans in the Workforce
Submitted by Tiffani Ewing, SHRM-CP, HR Indiana SHRM Workforce Readiness Director
November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, highlighted by Veterans Day on November 11th. Veterans Day honors all U.S. veterans, from every decade and conflict. Military families are also honored, acknowledging the sacrifices they make while supporting their servicemen and women. Without question, veterans bring many transferable skills to the workforce: experience, perseverance, leadership, composure under pressure, and teamwork. If your organization isn’t actively recruiting veterans, or if your veteran support programs could use an update, now is a great time to review your efforts and here are several resources to help:
SHRM Military Community at Work
SHRM Foundation developed the Veterans at Work program to provide HR professionals, people managers, and business leaders with proven educational content and resources, at no cost, to learn effective ways to reduce barriers and stigmas affecting the employment of veterans and their families. Veterans, as well as their family members and caregivers, are valuable members of our workforce. They have in-demand skills that are strengthened by their experiences with military service. Yet a large portion of veterans and military spouses are unemployed or underemployed and represent untapped talent for workplaces. Members of the military community face significant barriers to finding meaningful, long-term employment. Despite the unique skills and value they bring to employers, the vast majority of veterans report they have faced obstacles in attaining employment. Through the Veterans at Work initiative, SHRM Foundation works directly with HR professionals, people managers, and business leaders to break down barriers from within the hiring process and improve supports for veterans, military families, and caregivers throughout the employment lifecycle. The initiative offers free resources to help HR professionals implement better employment practices for military families in the workplace:
Did you know that employers of all sizes can receive an award from the Department of Labor (DoL) for their efforts to recruit, employ and retain America’s veterans? The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) American Military Veterans Act of 2017 required the DoL to establish the Medallion Program. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program is an employer recognition program administered by the DoL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS). Through the program, VETS accepts voluntary applications from employers for the HIRE Vets Medallion Award beginning on January 31 of each calendar year. The Award recognizes employers who hire and retain veterans, including their efforts to establish employee development programs and veteran specific benefits to improve retention.
INvets is a nonprofit public/private partnership with the state of Indiana that’s all about attracting, retaining, and cultivating our state’s veteran workforce. INvets is dedicated to matching the nation’s veteran workforce and their spouses with rewarding, lucrative career opportunities here in Indiana. INvets has served over 11, 000 veteran families and relocated over 1,200 new residents to Indiana. INvets works with dozens of partner companies across the state, matching veterans with open career opportunities. If you’re looking to add veteran talent to your workforce, visit the INvets website to create an employer profile and start connecting with the right candidates!
Indiana’s largest non-profit provider of services for veterans, Helping Veterans And Families (HVAF) mission is to provide housing and reintegration services to veterans experiencing or at-risk for homelessness. HVAF’s Veteran Workforce Development Program offers various opportunities for veterans who are seeking assistance with career training and placement. A dedicated team of Employment Specialists provide veterans with one-on-one assistance in the areas of resume creation, interview prep, financial planning, credit workshops, and much more. Click here to learn more about becoming an employer partner.
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