You’re not alone. There are dozens of resources and groups, both government and civilian, that can guide you on hiring veterans and spouses. From learning military basics to understanding legal requirements to locating potential applicants, help is out there with every step of the process.
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDES
A complete guide to recruiting, supporting and empowering veteran employees.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program was created to help businesses like yours find and attract quality applicants with military experience.
Society for Human Resource Management
The HR industry’s leading organization has dozens of articles on how to recruit and retain veterans and spouses.
U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)
VETS helps veterans connect with businesses who want to hire them, and vice versa. Find toolkits for employers wanting to put veterans to work, current info on available grants and tax benefits, and info about the government’s overall efforts to get more veterans working.
Veterans Administration (VA) Veterans Employment Center (VEC)
The VA has information on benefits available to your veteran employees, but it also has information for potential employers of veterans about programs related to hiring and training veteran workers.
The Department of Labor guide on the entire process covers everything from developing a strategy to retaining veterans and is full of resources, tips and fact sheets.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Explore platforms where you can post job descriptions and share information. Not every site will be right for you, but here are a few recommended by the VA.
America's Heroes at Work LinkedIn group
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and TBI Twitter feed
Hiring Our Heroes' Facebook page
Hiring Our Heroes' LinkedIn group
Hiring Our Heroes' Twitter page
National Resource Directory Facebook page
E-NEWS
The ELAWS Advisor provides interactive tools that guide to specific information on DOL employment laws and regulations. You can stay up-to-date on these important compliance assistance tools by subscribing to receive these updates.
U.S. Department of Labor e-mail alerts
The DOL offers a free electronic subscription service that allows citizens to receive notifications by e-mail, alerting them to newly available information. Subscribers get updates on their items of interest automatically without having to return to the website to check for changes.
RETAINING VETERANS
Accommodations and workplace productivity enhancements
Creating apprenticeship programs
Creating flexible work arrangements
EMPLOYMENT LAWS RELATED TO VETERANS
Employment Law Guide: Laws, Regulations, and Technical Assistance Services
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Guide for Employers on Veterans and the ADA
Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisor
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Resource Guide
A handy list of FAQs for employers on veterans rights and issues.
DISABILITY ISSUES
America's Heroes at Work tools on accommodating wounded warriors
Job Accommodation Network: Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Brain Injuries
LARGER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
Some businesses want to go beyond simply hiring employees with military experience. Some want to have a bigger part in the movement to support American military families. Here are some groups that serve veterans in many different ways. Go to the Department of Veterans Affairs' directory of veterans service organizations for a complete listing of groups that it recognizes.
Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)
Created by Syracuse University, this national center—the first of its kind—uses the resources available to higher education to research and address concerns related to veterans and their families.
This organization was formed in 2010 by former Marines who had led a medical team into Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. It gives veterans the opportunity to continue serving their communities, organizing and fundraising for trips to areas hit by major disaster.
Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB)
Team RWB’s mission: “To enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.” They provide veterans with opportunities to get together with other veterans in social and sports settings.
For those veterans who return from war with significant injuries, their battle is just beginning. This organization helps service members restart their interrupted lives.
Veterans in need of emergency financial and other assistance have received more than $128 million in funding from Operation Homefront since it was started in 2002 to assist those deployed after the attacks of 9/11.
United Service Organizations (USO)
This long-serving organization has been around since 1941, and has the mission of “lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families.” They provide much-needed entertainment for deployed troops, and give service members and their families a “home away from home” in cities (and airports) around the world.
FAMILY READINESS GROUPS/FAMILY READINESS SYSTEM (FRS)
These are networks of individuals, agencies and programs that together work to help veterans and their families meet the everyday challenges that arise because of military service, from deployment and relocation to childcare, financial assistance and counseling. Connect with one of these groups to find out more about military families in your area. These sites can help direct you to the right group or locality.