Session 3 - Operation Pledge to Vets Conference. Becoming a Military-Friendly Employer.

1. BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
HEATHER HENRY
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC

2. A person who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces
and has a discharge other than dishonorable
Project Veterans in MD in 2014: 435,657
87% recorded retention rate
2
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
What IS a veteran?

3. • Value the traits that most veterans bring from their military
background
• Acknowledge the accelerated learning curve of a veteran
• Recognize that the U.S. Military excels at cultivating essential
workplace skills in personnel
But also…
• Open avenues for veterans within the company
• Establish concrete steps to give veterans an
opportunity, support, and consideration in hiring and on the
job
3
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
What Does Military-Friendly Mean?

4. Veteran Recruitment
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Employs staff to recruit
Has military specific section on company
website
An annual military hiring advertising budget
Internal programs to support disabled
veteran hiring
Accepts certification for military experience
Tracks veteran or spouse applications
Military recruitment training for HR staff
Veteran Numbers
12% - Military or spouse
employees
16% - Transitioning Military/
Veteran New Hires
10% - Military Spouse New Hires
45% - Representation of veterans
in leadership positions
Veteran Retention
•
•
•
•
•
•
OJT programs for veterans and spouses
Managerial level training programs for veterans and spouses
Networking events for military employees
Job relocation assistance for spouses
On-ramping programs for employees returning from duty
Over 6 months formal sponsorships for military new hires
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
4
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Case Study: USAA #1 Military-Friendly Employer

5. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Develop a Strategy for a Veterans Hiring Program
Create a Welcoming and Educated Workplace
Actively Recruit Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and
Spouses
Hire Qualified Veterans and Learn How to
Accommodate Wounded Warriors
Promote an Inclusive Workplace to Retain Your
Veteran Employees
Keep Helpful Tools and Resources at Your Fingertips
- DOL Veteran Hiring Toolkit
5
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
6 Steps to Becoming Veteran-Friendly

6. •
•
•
•
Become familiar with benefits of hiring
Tie veteran recruiting to your overall business strategy
Build commitment by establishing a core internal team
Develop a realistic plan of what steps your company
can take
• Communicate strategy to all levels of the company
Understand
Build
Commitment
Develop a
Plan
Communicate
6
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 1: Develop a Strategy

7. • Develop understanding of
military culture and
experience
• Establish your company
and application as
veteran-friendly
- Post on website
- Mention value of
veterans in materials
- Consider supporting
hiring of military
spouses
• Learn about the potential
wounds of veterans
7
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 2: A Welcoming Environment

8. • Modify job descriptions
• Access credible resources in your search
• Add “Have you served in the armed forces of the
United States?” on your application
• Know what you can and shouldn’t ask in the
interview
• Make someone familiar with military experience
and culture available to help
• Offer pre-employment civilian work-experience
8
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 3: Actively Recruit Veterans

9. Create an on-boarding plan
Clearly communicate
• norms, roles and responsibilities
• performance expectations, policies on promotions
• process for requesting job accommodations
Consider employee mentoring
Understand compliance responsibilities
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical
Leave Act (FMLA)
• Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment
Rights Act (USERRA)
Know where to go for accommodation assistance
9
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 4: Hire Veterans

10. •
•
•
•
Develop and promote peer mentorships
Practice veteran appreciation
Evaluate Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
Dispel misconceptions through education of
employees and managers
• Expose veterans to new roles and give opportunity
for leadership
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 5: Retaining Veteran Employees
10
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC

11. • Connect with your Local Veterans Employment
Representative (LVER)
• Develop partnerships with Veteran Service
Organizations or the VA to stay connected
• Join social media groups
• Refer to Toolkits
•
•
•
DOL “Veteran Hiring Toolkit”
SHRM “Support from Behind the Lines”
VA “Veterans Employment Toolkit”
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Step 6: Helpful Tools and Resources
11
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC

12. • MDVA “Veteran Friendly Businesses of
Maryland”
• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
(ESGR) Statement of Support
• ESGR Pro Patria Award
• Secretary of Defense Employer Support
Freedom Award
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Become Recognized as Military Friendly
12
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC

13. • Alan Crawley – LVER, Southern Maryland
• Robert Pelletier – LVER, Montgomery County
• LeRoy Thomas – LVER, Mid-Maryland
HEATHER HENRY
BECOMING A MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Questions
13
© 2013 ALLAGASH GROUP LLC