DOL has announced its new HIRE Vets Medallion Award Program that allows employers to be publicly recognized for their commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans (program fact sheet). Known as the HIRE Vets Act, the Act was enacted by President Trump on May 5, 2017 and mandated that the Department of Labor establish a formal program that recognizes and awards employer’s efforts toward veteran employment.
Why be recognized as a HIRE Vets Award Employer?
- Receive the ONLY veteran hiring award from the federal level
- Illustrate your support to veterans as an employer committed to veteran hiring and retention
- Be regarded as an example employer to your peer companies that you are committed and support our nation’s heroes
- Receive a certificate and DIGITAL IMAGE of the award medallion for use in advertisement, solicitation, business activity, or product.
Award Program Details
Currently, the HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal award for veteran hiring and provides companies with formal recognition for their employment practices that reach veterans. There are two awards (Platinum or Gold) and each award has various entry requirements depending on the employer’s size: small, medium, or large. The overall criteria for each award and company size speaks to the employer’s:
- Hiring and retention of veterans
- Veteran integration assistance programs, and
- Labor law violations
Employers can begin submitting applications for either Platinum or Gold awards January 2019, but award applications must be received by April 30, 2019. See DOL’s prepared award timeline for more details. Additionally, there is an application fee tied to each award submission based on the employer’s size.
Employers can sign up for email updates, visit DOL’s FAQs, or browse HIREVets.gov for more information on the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
By Marcelle Clavette, Consultant, at DCI Consulting Group
DCI Special Note
While employers can begin submitting applications in January 2019 to be distinguished as a HIRE Vets Award winner, DCI wants to alert all contractors that some program criteria requirements for the award must be established by December 31, 2018. All contractors, even those who are still deciding whether or not they would like to submit an award application, are highly recommended to review DOL’s provided award criteria chart to understand formal program requirements and implemented program effective dates for an award submission in year 2019.
