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EmployeeRelations
Reporting for duty: Military is good HR source
Veterans bring
solid skills to
your company
By Elaine Dumler
In recent years, there has been
concern about new employees
coming into the work force who
may lack the loyalty, dedication
and work ethic that employers have
come to expect from earlier generations.
Times may be changing. But
there is an employee base that comes
with many of those values intact—
military personnel.
In this time of economic fragility,
hiring military personnel can help
you save money by reducing recruiting
and training costs. What makes a
veteran such a sought-after employee?
This is what many companies are
finding:
➤ Workers who have served in the
military have a history of commitment—to
themselves, to each other
and to an employer. This sense of
loyalty fosters their need to go above
and beyond when asked to complete
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a project. They are used to reporting
for work on time and know
the importance of a professional
appearance and demeanor. Military
employees know how to take
responsibility for projects, tasks and
personal actions. They are trained to
see things through to their conclusion.
➤ The military instills other values
that are vital to a thriving business.
These include resiliency, respect,
patience, trust and honesty. Military
personnel have served in an environment
where leadership skills,
such as being highly motivated and
displaying an attitude of dedication,
are mandatory.
➤ Veterans are medically and physically
fit and ready for work, which
translates into fewer sick days and
injuries. They already have been
screened for drugs and were drugfree
while in the service. Members
of the military are trained to remain
calm in the face of stress and to analyze
and evaluate a situation before
reacting. This leads to level-headed
thinking and decision-making.
Veterans arrive with the skills,
personality and understanding to
do a good job but often don’t know
exactly where to put those skills to
work. Caring companies like yours
can help them refine and use their
talents.
Incentives for hiring
The federal government is continually
setting up programs that offer
financial incentives for hiring veterans,
especially wounded or disabled
veterans. These employees may
qualify for job training grants and
special employer incentives. To find
incentives for your business, check
www.va.gov or www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.
When you employ someone in the
National Guard or military reserves, it
puts you in a unique position. You are
eligible to sign a Statement of Support
that sends a message to the employee
that he doesn’t need to be concerned
about his civilian job while serving.
You may be nominated for awards
given by the Employer Support of the
Guard and Reserve program, which
is designed to recognize employers
for their military employee practices.
These range from the Patriot Award
Certificate of Appreciation to the
prestigious Freedom Awards given
annually by the U.S. Secretary of Defense
to the nation’s most supportive
employers.
Such awards and resulting media
exposure can work for your bottom
line. You can market your company
as one that supports the men and
women who serve their country
through the military.
BedTimes | April 2011 | 11