In preparation for the 2019 launch of its veteran hiring initiative, the Department of Labor announced a list of award recipients for its pilot “HIRE VETS Medallion Program Demonstration Award” on Wednesday, December 19.

President Trump signed the HIRE (Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans) Vets Act on May 5, 2017. HIRE required the DOL to establish rules for an award program that recognizes employers who make extra efforts to recruit, hire, and retain veterans.  In October, DOL released additional information on the Medallion Awards Program, which recognizes those employers who demonstrate dedication to hiring and retaining qualified veterans during the previous calendar year and offer certain veteran-specific employee programs. The HIRE Act establishes two tiers of recognition: Gold and Platinum, with varying requirements depending upon employer size.

DOL anticipates that the benefits to employers will include reputational recognition and the ability for employers to market themselves as a “veteran friendly employer and be able to attract more veterans for job openings.” Employers who have been cited for or who have admitted to violating their obligations under USERRA or VEVRAA during the previous 12 month are ineligible.

Category Employees Entry Fee
Small Employers <50 $90
Medium Employer 50-499 $190
Large Employer 500+ $495

 

Participation in the HIRE Vets Medallion Program is voluntary and open to employers of all sizes. Interested employers must submit applications with the applicable entry fee between January 31 and April 30, 2019. The initial 2019 VETS Medallion Awards recipients will be announced to coincide with Veterans’ Day.

As we’ve reported in the past few months, OFCCP has also announced its intention to recognize government contractors with outstanding comprehensive outreach programs and innovative targeted outreach to individuals with disabilities.

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Photo of Laura A. Mitchell Laura A. Mitchell

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with…

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with employers to build programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. Understanding that an inclusive, values-based culture provides a crucial competitive advantage in the modern workplace, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay and diversity practices.

In Laura’s version of the reimagined workplace, attention to human capital issues, especially DEI and pay equity, would be the rule rather than the exception nationwide and she works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize this vision for her clients’ ongoing success. She helps clients understand all issues across the spectrum of their journey, helping to establish regular analyses as well as counseling organizations on implementation and compliance obligations, where applicable. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication.

Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients.