Hiring veterans can be a major contributor to building a diverse and disciplined workforce. These individuals bring exceptional skills, a strong sense of leadership, adaptability, and a commitment to teamwork, qualities that can give any organization a competitive edge.
With these five best practices for retaining veterans in your workforce, you can make intentional efforts to ensure they feel seen, supported, and valued.
1. Foster an Inclusive Culture
Veterans thrive in workplaces that understand and respect their experiences. One of the first steps to creating a friendly environment is fostering awareness and inclusivity among both managers and existing staff.
This can mean everything from educating your team about military culture and experiences to celebrating their service with initiatives or events. Showing respect for veterans' experiences means embedding these values into your workplace culture.
2. Provide Structured Onboarding
Transitioning from military to civilian employment is a significant adjustment for veterans. A structured, well-thought-out onboarding experience can help ease the transition and set veterans up for long-term success.
Be transparent about their role, company culture, and metrics of success. Provide written or digital materials that summarize company policies, benefits, and networks available to support veteran employees. Making veterans feel empowered and informed during their first days on the job can translate to higher retention rates.
3. Celebrate Key Victories
Recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of veteran employees is an essential part of fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace. Whether it's completing a major project, reaching a personal milestone, or contributing innovative ideas, acknowledging these achievements reinforces their value within the organization.
Celebrations can vary from personal shout-outs during team meetings to company-wide emails or rewards programs. With the right approach, you may even be nominated for the HIRE Vets Medallion Award, a federal program for offering recognition to businesses that employ veterans.
4. Support Work-Life Balance
Like any employee, veterans need a healthy work-life balance to thrive. Beyond that, some veterans may grapple with unique challenges, such as readjusting to civilian life or managing mental health conditions like PTSD.
Allow veterans to attend VA appointments or pursue hobbies and family commitments outside of work. Encourage participation in physical wellness programs, mindfulness practices, or meditation groups. Demonstrating your company's commitment to mental health can go a long way in fostering loyalty and goodwill among veteran employees.
5. Provide Growth Opportunities
Military veterans bring a wealth of experience in leadership, discipline, and problem-solving to your organization. To retain them, ensure these skills are not just acknowledged but actively utilized and developed.
Create clear pathways for veterans to grow within your organization, whether through leadership development programs, certifications, or technical training. By investing in their professional growth, you're creating an environment where veterans feel valued and motivated to stay.
Build a Veteran-Inclusive Workforce Today
For today's organizations, investing in veteran retention is just smart business. With these five best practices for retaining veterans in your workforce, you can position your company for success.
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