Want to thank veterans for their service? Hire them.

Want to thank veterans for their service? Hire them.

KEITH E. SONDERLING
Marine recruits from MCRD recreate the famed photograph of the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.

Helping serve our nation’s veterans during and after their years of service to our country is a nonpartisan issue.

Sonderling is a commissioner on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The views here are the author’s own and should not be attributed to the EEOC or any other member of the commission. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Veterans Day should be more than a day of reflection and remembrance. It should be a day that moves us to action. After several years of service and great sacrifice, many veterans want to transition to meaningful civilian jobs to provide for themselves and their families. That is why this Veterans Day, I am encouraging all employers to give veterans the ultimate “thank you for your service” by hiring them.

Veterans bring personal traits and professional skills that add value to the workplace. For example, veterans have excellent leadership skills and are adept at handling high levels of responsibility. While they are self-starters who can work independently, they also recognize that mentorship, motivation and collaboration are necessary for their teams to excel. Veterans are quick learners who can apply their skills and experiences in various circumstances, a skill essential in today’s dynamic workplace. According to the CEB Corporate Leadership Council, its analysis shows that veteran hires are more valuable employees and that veterans, on average, perform at higher levels and are less likely to leave their jobs for new ones, generating significant business outcomes.

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