Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/86182
Human Resources ("Tips for Tapping into the Veteran Workforce" continued from page 22) find jobs within the construction industry. For employers, there are two types of military personnel you may hire, veterans and members of the active reserves or National Guard. Members of the Reserve and National Guard balance civilian careers with a part-time military career. Since the Gulf War, there has been a significant shift in the use of reserve forces. "We are leaning more on our Reserve and Guard forces to support our combat forces than we were in the past," said John Michels, a former Air Force aircrew member and military lawyer (JAG). He is now a partner with the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith in Chicago. Legal Obligations of Employers Employers who hire members of the active reserve need to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service. USERRA also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and appli- cants to the uniformed services, as well as having specific requirements for dealing with returning service members who are disabled because of active-duty injuries. "Employers need to understand that they are going to have an obligation to rehire these folks, even though they may be leaving for many months to go back on active duty," said Michels. The employer must maintain health coverage for 30 days and offer up to 24 months of health Free Resources to Reach Veterans 1) The Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces (www.employerpartnership.org) makes connections between more than 3,000 interested companies and veterans that have been vetted, screened and trained by the military. 2) Hero2Hired (www.h2H.com) posts job openings that reach qualified candidates who are actively seeking employment. You can automatically post all of your jobs using either H2Hs API or your job integrator. 3) The Veterans Job Bank of the National Resource Directory (www.nrd.gov) is a collaboration between the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and the Veterans Administration. It allows employers to post position notices to their own company website or other job boards. Positions tagged with a special "Veterans Job Bank Widget" created by Google, will pull the position notice from the company website or other job boards. Some job boards that focus on veterans are free of charge to the employer: 24 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | October 2012 Vets bring a strong work ethic, good technical training, and disci- pline to Modern Group, says President and CEO Dave Griffith. coverage while they are in the military. While the employer's obligation to pay stops when the employee leaves, some employers voluntarily make up the difference between military pay (which is often lower) and civilian pay. Veterans with disabilities are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others. It prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. It restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant's disability before a job offer is made. "Employers are required to attempt to accom- modate the disability if you can," said Michels. "If it is an undue hardship or the person can't perform the essential elements of the job with an accommodation, then they are not qualified for the position." Michels believes that with an aging workforce, accom- modating disabilities will be more common among both veterans and nonveterans. "Employers are going to have to understand that they have to accommodate the things that happen to people when they get past a certain age." Veterans in Dealerships Modern Group, with locations throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, has a long tradition of considering individuals for employment and supporting candidates who are on active reserve. They currently have approximately 27 staff members who are veterans or in the Reserve. In May, CNN featured Modern Group in a report on veteran employment. During the last three or four years, Modern Group has tapped into a number of programs with vendors to help with military placements, primarily for technical positions. In addition to construction equipment, the company manages a forklift and power business. "It has been good for us, it has been good for business, it has been good for the veterans," said Modern Group President and CEO David Griffith. "You are always out look- ing for talent and the military is a great training ground."