Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Partners with Disney, General Motors to Encourage Veteran Hiring

Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) July 24, 2015 – Around 300 Michigan-based companies gathered in Detroit on June 5 for the Michigan Veteran Hiring Best Practices Summit to learn how to develop veteran hiring programs and boost the employment of veterans.

The event was sponsored by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) in association with General Motors (GM), Walt Disney and USAA, which have been pioneers when it comes to veteran hiring programs.

GM employs about 5,000 active and veteran military employees, while Disney’s “Heroes Work Here” program has resulted in the hiring of more than 5,000 veterans since 2012. The Disney Veterans Institute’s workshops have also helped other companies employ an additional 5,000 former servicemen and women.

Despite being well-educated and trained in a variety of skills, veterans can have a hard time convincing companies to hire them.

“Veterans have a broad range of skills to be successful at a number of jobs, whether it is their work ethic, leadership, technological prowess or communication abilities. The challenge lies in helping employers understand how these skills and experiences translate from a military background into the civilian workplace,” said Jim Fausone, a Michigan-based veterans attorney.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates there were 573,000 unemployed veterans in the United States in 2014. According to the MVAA, Michigan has one of the highest veteran unemployment rates in the country.

During the daylong seminar, the MVAA conducted discussions on veteran hiring and retention, presented the state and federal resources available to veterans and employers, and shared personal stories from veterans who have transitioned into the civilian workforce.

The agency created the Veteran-Friendly Employer Program in 2014 to recognize Michigan companies dedicated to attracting veteran employees.

“Such workshops bring to light some of the effective hiring programs employers are using. With a little extra effort, companies can hire and train more veterans, thereby reducing unemployment rates,” Fausone said.

Learn more at http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC 41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101 Northville, MI 48168 Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800