Time is running out for employers to showcase their support for U.S. military veterans.
The application deadline for the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL's) 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards is April 30.
The awards are presented annually to employers that meet standards for excellence in the recruitment, hiring and retention of military veterans. Employers are recognized for a variety of hiring and retention initiatives, including their efforts to establish employee development programs for veterans and offer veteran-specific benefits to improve retention. Award recipients can utilize the honor in marketing their organization as a veteran-friendly business.
Employers that receive the award in 2022 will join more than 1,400 veteran-ready employers that the department has recognized since 2018. Each year, the military's civilian transition programs instruct nearly 200,000 transitioning service members to seek out HIRE Vets Medallion Award recipients. The honorees will be announced in time to coincide with Veterans Day this year.
"The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans' employment award that recognizes a proven commitment to veteran hiring," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. "Veterans and their families benefit from careers with real growth potential, and employers gain dedicated, qualified employees who can make a significant contribution to the bottom line."
Brandon Martinez, a veteran and vice president of PeopleTec, a defense contractor in Huntsville, Ala., said his firm is proud to have been recognized three years in a row. "The award is exceptionally important to us," he said. "It recognizes our commitment to employ and care for our nation's veterans. Our 40 percent veteran workforce adds a unique and powerful skill set through their leadership perspective, strong work ethic and mission experience."
Completing an Application
To complete the application process, employers must verify that their organization meets award requirements, pay an application fee, and comply with rules under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act.
The DOL's Veterans' Employment and Training Service team will review applications, verify the information provided, and determine and notify award recipients.
Awards are distributed to large employers (those with 500 or more employees), medium employers (51-499 employees) and small employers (50 or fewer employees) with varying criteria.
The criteria are generally based on the following measures:
- Percentage of new hires during the previous year that are veterans.
- Percentage of veteran employees retained for a period of at least 12 months.
- Percentage of employees who are veterans.
- Programs designed to assist new veteran employees with integration, enhance leadership skills of veteran employees and support veteran employees with tuition assistance.
- A dedicated HR professional who supports hiring, training and retention of veteran employees.
Employers are not required to satisfy all criteria. Verification of criteria includes a self-attestation by the applicant and a check for violations of veteran-related labor laws.
Applicants pay a fee to cover administrative costs from between $90 for small employers to $495 for large employers.
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