I bet you didn’t know that Chuck Norris, Ice-T, Johnny Cash, and Client Eastwood are all United States veterans. These are just a few of the names, although famous, that helped to protect and fight for this great country we call the United States of America, and their contributions to our society, along with countless others, should be celebrated.
November was National Veterans and Military Families Month. This month-long observance is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans and their families. The US government has recognized this month since 1996. It is a time when we come together to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our military families and recommit to doing right by their dedicated service.
Each year, thousands of military personnel stationed around the world leave active duty and return to jobs they held prior to their service or initiate the search for new jobs. There are several federal laws that provide important protections for veterans with disabilities who are either looking for jobs or are already in the workplace. These include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which both protect veterans from employment discrimination. Additionally, The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) requires contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment certain categories of both veterans and veterans with disabilities.
Despite all the safeguards that have been established, bias and prejudice can negatively impact a veteran’s ability to work and create a detrimental effect on their overall quality of life.
Today, there are over 20 million veterans in the United States. Among veterans’ groups, Gulf War veterans made up the largest portion of veterans in 2016, surpassing Vietnam veterans for the first time. Alternatively, today fewer people are signing up to become members of the armed forces, which means veteran status is actually declining. This decline is expected through 2045 when military members are expected to decline to about 40% of the current military force.
So how do we celebrate our veterans?
One of the best ways to consider celebrating National Veterans and Military Families Month is also one of the simplest…send a card. Many of us know military members or veterans who are away from home, hospitalized or living in a retirement community sometimes far from family. A great way to show your appreciation and support for our veterans and military families this month is to merely send a card. If you don’t know a retired service member but want to participate, contact your local VA hospital and ask how you can send a card to brighten a veteran’s day.
HR Unlimited, Inc. specializes in helping federal contractors and employers effectively meet their AAP and EEO compliance obligations. Please contact us to discuss any of your questions, concerns, or needs in this area.