Veterans in the workplace are an undervalued resource for the businesses that hire them, especially when it comes to leadership. Veteran hiring is on the rise, and that’s great news for both companies and potential candidates needing work. But what does it take to support veterans once they’ve been hired? Here are some steps you can take:
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Increase veteran recruiting and hiring
Businesses should increase veteran recruiting and hiring to support them emotionally and financially. Vet hiring is a win-win for everyone—it helps you attract top talent, retain top talent, build a diverse workforce, and build a more inclusive workplace.
There are many reasons veterans are great employees:
- They tend to be highly qualified.
- They work hard.
- They’re dedicated to their jobs.
- They have strong communication skills.
In other words, having them on your team can help you grow your business faster than ever before!
“By finding ways to tap into top military talent, not only will transitioning military members have the chance to get immersed into a great organization, but they’ll be able to add to your company’s culture by providing another perspective to tackle your biggest customer problems,” says Intuit business experts.
Ensure veteran employees feel welcome and connected
The first step to supporting veterans is ensuring they feel welcome and connected on the job. You can provide them with a mentor, sponsor, or buddy system. A mentor is an employee who takes time out of their day to talk through issues and offer guidance.
A sponsor is someone who helps you navigate through company policies and procedures, which may be unfamiliar because of your military background. A buddy system is a way for veterans to get to know each other at work so they’re not alone in their transition from military to civilian life.
Support their transition to the civilian workforce
- Provide a mentor.
- Offer training or support.
- Create an environment that supports family needs, such as flexible schedules and telecommuting options.
- Support veterans’ goals and needs, such as those who want to start their own businesses or work in nonprofits.
Honor military anniversaries and holidays
You can honor the sacrifices of our veterans in several ways. For example, you may want to consider celebrating their service anniversaries or holidays.
You can do this by recognizing that one year ago, your veteran was serving overseas; or that seven years ago, they were fighting in a war zone. Or maybe they just celebrated their birthday on Veteran’s Day! Honoring these essential milestones will help keep them in your mind and highlight their contributions to the country.
Partner with military support groups
Partnering with military support groups can help you learn about the needs of veterans and identify those who are a good fit for your company. Not only will it allow you to connect with service members who may be interested in working at your business, but it also gives you access to information about the skills veterans bring to the workforce.
The most important thing to remember is that veterans are people. Veterans are fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who have served our country. They deserve the same respect and honor that we give all those who serve in the military. The best way to show this respect is by ensuring you have a veteran-friendly corporate culture at your company, from hiring them as employees to honoring their service anniversaries.
