Whether you just started working at a new company or you're looking to build a veteran presence at your own company — do you know how to spot the indicators of a veteran-friendly employer?
America's Warrior Partnership launched the Corporate Veteran Initiative to see what key things businesses and employees can do to create more veteran-friendly workplaces. Project directors Josh Wilson and Kaitlin Cashwell shared with Connecting Vets what they found.
1. Encourage not just veterans to be there — but also family members and other employees.
"One of the things we found since we launched the program is that family members really need the help," Marine Corps veteran Wilson said. "Encourage community volunteering — not just the veteran employees but family members and other employees. It's not just something that builds veteran camaraderie, it's something that really brings people together. We don't want to isolate veterans."
2. Little things matter — like recognizing military holidays or providing employee identifiers.
Lanyards with the employee's military branch? Starbucks's special military appreciation green aprons?
"These little nods of respect and recognition go a long way," Wilson said.
Even if the company's model does not allow for employees to have work off on Veterans Day, are efforts made to make veteran employees feel appreciated?
3. What makes a great veteran recruiting tool? Veterans.
"Vets recruit other veterans. When you find one you usually find a big ole' bucket of them," Wilson said. "Veterans enjoy interacting with other veterans. Veteran mentors is (are) also something that veteran-friendly companies have."
Whether this is through a Facebook group, a formal employee resource group, or something more casual, veteran-friendly companies will have more than one veteran employee — and they'll tend to work together.
4. Employee-driven programs are key — but so is support from the top down.
"If the leadership within the company doesn't make it a goal and a priority to support veterans, veteran employees, and veteran initiatives then the system won't work as a whole. If veterans don't have time during work hours to volunteer, meet, talk about veteran issues in the workplace, then it won't succeed," Cashwell said.
5. Care.
"A little bit of time and a little bit of care goes a long way," Wilson said. Even without a large veteran support budget or a designated veteran hiring and retention team, companies can make themselves veteran-friendly if they adopt a culture of care.
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