There is now a
new online toolkit to guide employers through the process for hiring
veterans. The free toolkit is designed to assist and educate employers
who have made the proactive decision to include veterans and wounded
warriors in their recruitment and hiring initiatives.
"Many
employers have told us that they are interested in developing or
enhancing a veterans hiring initiative for their company, but that they
don't know where to begin," said Ray Jefferson, assistant secretary for
the department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service. "This
toolkit was created with these employers in mind. It's designed to
simplify the process and put valuable, vetted resources at the
employer's fingertips."
Developed as part of the
department's "America's Heroes at Work" initiative, the Veterans Hiring
Toolkit features a straightforward six-step process pinpointing helpful
tools for a business to design a veterans hiring initiative. These
steps include creating an educated and welcoming environment for
veteran employees; actively recruiting veterans, wounded warriors and
military spouses; learning how to accommodate qualified veterans and
wounded warriors in the workplace; and promoting an inclusive workplace
to help retain veteran employees. The toolkit also helps employers
navigate the plethora of resources for hiring veterans available to
them.
"The launch of this toolkit is especially timely
given the October observance of National Disability Employment
Awareness Month," said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary for the
department's Office of Disability Employment Policy. "Disabled
veterans, including those experiencing the ‘invisible' wounds of war
like traumatic brain injury and combat stress, are an important segment
of the disability population that needs our support when transitioning
to civilian employment."
The final section of the toolkit
features a quick reference list of reputable online resources to help
users find and welcome talented and skilled veterans into their
companies. Examples include links to veterans employment service
organizations, places to receive consultations on workplace
accommodations and answers to common employer questions about hiring
veterans and wounded warriors. Whether users are looking to create a
veterans hiring program from scratch or retool existing efforts, the
toolkit can help them design and implement a customized initiative.
To access the toolkit, visit http://www.AmericasHeroesAtWork.gov/forEmployers/HiringToolkit.