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Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
And the Vermont State HR Council
Workforce Readiness Initiative:
Mission Possible!
Putting our Heroes (back) to Work
Why Are We Here?
• Vermont SHRM Council’s Workforce Readiness Initiative for 2011- 2012
• What is Workforce Readiness? Ensure that today’s and tomorrow’s workforce or workplace: has the skills, competencies and behaviors in order to
succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace. maximizes the potential of today’s and tomorrow’s workforce
• Vermont veterans need our support in helping them re-enter the civilian workforce after serving our country.
• Post-9-11 (and all) veterans will continue to make up a substantial element of the workforce
Situational Update
• VT ARNG 86 Brigade soldiers returned Dec 10-Jan 11
• VT ANG 158th FW airmen returned Spring-Fall 2011
• Many reservists deploy individually
• We (Vermonters) still have global presence in Africa, Macedonia, and many other areas
• Currently about 200 recently-returning veterans are out of work
• Active military are returning from Iraq and leaving the service looking for jobs as well
The Value of Hiring a Vet• Veterans bring valuable skills & experience to the hiring
equation.• In the military, men and women undergo extensive
training that teaches them how to: Hold positions of leadership even at a relatively young
age Handle problems, resolve issues, multitask, and work in
teams Work in positions of intense stress and pressure, while
maintaining composure & focus Work within a tight budget & stretch limited resources Work and live with a wide variety of people & be sensitive
to other cultures
The Value of Hiring a Vet
• Interested in education and self-development
• Challenges to employment of veterans:
Usually will not “blow their own horn”
May have a hard time explaining and/or translating their military experience so that HR/hiring managers understand what they’ve done (and their potential to the organization)
Employers concerns and misconceptions about PTSD
Translation of military experience to a written resume or interview
Translating Military Skills and Experience
• Bridging acronyms and “military-speak”
• O*Netonline.org
• Military.com
• The “whole” person
• Contact VT ESGR
• “Peeling the Onion”
• Understanding the context for Enlisted, NCO, Officer
The Value of Hiring a Vet
Hire a Vet and qualify for a tax credit WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) at Federal and State level (thru 2012)
Vermont Law
$2,000 max tax credit if hiring an unemployed veteran for new hire May 24, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2012
Min. 35 hours/week and must hold for 45 of 52 weeks following the hire
http://veterans.vermont.gov/transitions/taxcredit
The Value of Hiring A Vet
Federal Law - Returning Heroes & Wounded Warrior Tax Credits
•The Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011:
•Food stamp eligibility (SNAP)
•Disabled vets - wage cap of first $24,000, max tax credit of $4,800
•Disabled vets - unemployed for at least 6 months, wage cap of first $24,000 and max tax credit $9,600
The Value of Hiring A Vet
VOW cont
Vets unemployed for at least 4 weeks - wage cap of first $6,000, max. tax credit of 40% - $2,400Vets unemployed for at least 6 months - wage cap of first $14,000, max. tax credit of 40% - $5,600
501 (c) organizations can now participate
Provisions effective Nov. 22, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2012
http://www.gibillmagazine.com/fact-sheet-returning-heroes-and-wounded-warrior-tax-credits.html
Facts About Returning Vets
• Not all are impacted negatively
• Each person stands as its own case
• For many, not any different than one’s involvement in any other major life trauma events
• Not everything will manifest itself early on
• TBI and PTSD are treatable, and other realities
TBI, PTSD, and Clarifying Myths
Joe Nusbaum, Brain Injury Association of Vermont (BIA-VT)
Joe NusbaumVeterans Job Developer
In the United States, at least1.4 million sustain a concussion each year(That we know about)
51,000 die 290,000 are hospitalized 1,224,000 million are treated and
released from an emergency department
All concussions are TBIs
Traumatic Brain Injury is an insult to the brain caused by an external physical force
Acquired Brain Injury is an insult to the brain that has occurred after birth, for example; TBI, stroke, near suffocation, infections in the brain, anoxia
Scope of the Problem Distribution of Severity:
Mild injuries = 80%Loss of Consciousness (LOC)< 30 min, Post Traumatic Amnesia (PTA) ,1 hour
Moderate = 10 - 13%(LOC 30 min-24 hours, PTA 1-24 hours)
Severe = 7 - 10%(LOC >24 hours, PTA >24 hours)
BIAVT Toll free help-line Neuro-Resource Facilitation
Facilitate interdependence to maximize individual’s potential
Veteran Job Developer and Outreach BI Support Groups Education
NewsletterPreventionOutreachResource Library
The Team and Their Roles18
The Individual-Centered Team
Individual with TBI
Case Manager
OccupationalTherapist
SpeechPathologist
Nutritionist
Physician
Social Worker
PsychologistPhysicalTherapist
Parents
MedicalConsultants
Neuropsychologist
SiblingsTBI Waiver
Director
Individual with TBI
SpouseChildren
Life Skills Aide
VocationalSpecialist
RecreationTherapist
Employer
Caregiver
Physiatrist
Anytime, Anyone, Anywhere
JobIncomeHealthPersonalityLifestyleHobbiesActivitiesSocial connectionCommunity
connectionSense of self
The New Normal Living a New Life Failing in the Old
Life
Diagnosis is key
Unidentified traumatic brain injury is an unrecognized major source of social and vocational failure”
Wayne Gordon, Ph.D of the Brain Injury Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Physical Impairments Balance, Mobility Motor Coordination Sensory Loss- smell, taste, touch Hearing or Vision Impairment Spasticity/Tremors Speech Fatigue/Weakness Seizures
Cognitive Impairments Memory Attention Concentration Processing Aphasia/receptive
and expressive language
Decision making, judgment
Executive skills Problem solving,
sequencing Planning, organizing Self-Perception Perception Inflexibility Persistence
A memory deficit might look like trouble remembering or it might look like…… She frequently misses appointments
He says he’ll do something but doesn’t get around to it
She talks about the same thing or asks the same question over and over
He invents plausible sounding answers so you won’t know he doesn’t remember
An attention deficit might look like trouble paying attention or it might look like …
He keeps changing the subject
She doesn’t complete tasks
He has a million things going on and none of them ever gets completed
When she tries to do two things at once she gets confused and upset
Executive Function Awareness Planning Setting goals Self-initiation Self-inhibiting Self-Monitoring Ability to change set Strategic Behavior
A deficit in executive skills might look like the inability to plan and organize or it might look like....
Insensitivity, rudeness
Covering up problems
Big difference in what he thinks and what everyone else thinks about his behavior
Blaming others for problems
Doesn’t think she needs supports
A deficit in executive skills might look like the inability to plan and organize or it might look like...
Uncooperativeness
Lack of follow through
Laziness
Irresponsibility
Overconfidence
Structure is what enables people with brain injuries to do what they need to do.
Veteran Job Development at BIA
Department of Labor Grant
Created employment-focused neuro-resource facilitation services for Veterans suffering the effects from concussion
Mission of the BIA VT Job Developer
Outreach to VT Businesses
Job placement and retention of Veterans with TBI
BIA Job Developer
Referral Network for Veterans
Referral Network for Veterans
Veterans in Vermont
10% of Vermonters are Veterans (approx 66k)
1,500+ Veterans returned in the last year
20% of returning Veterans report prior concussion
19% of returning Veterans meet criteria for PTSD
A recent survey of deployed Guard cited EMPLOYMENT as the top concern of returning soldiers.
TBI in the Workplace
Employees with TBI make other employees feel uncomfortable
Employees with TBI cannot perform as well as other employees
Employees with TBI cannot be fired, regardless of performance
Employees with TBI cannot handle full workloadsEmployees with TBI require expensive accommodations
MYTHS about Employees with TBI:
Certain Conditions Can Help Veterans with TBI Reintegrate in the Workplace
Repeating Schedules & Routine Tasks
Sequential Steps
Flexible work
Jobs with slow periods
Part-Time/Shorter work days
Cognitive and/or physical breaks
Quiet, clutter-free, and low light work environments
Limited Distractions
Support and Feedback
Predictable Work Problems
BIAVTBIAVT
• Toll free help-line:
1-877-856-1772
• Toll free help-line:
1-877-856-1772
How You can best Support your Citizen Soldier
• Remember s/he may still be in a reintegration process
• Communication! Ask them about their experiences
• Learn about their preferences in returning to work
• Give them space and allow time
• Let them know you’re interested and open to talking
Laws that Protect Vets
• The Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
• Military Family Entitlements under FMLA
• The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act
• State of Vermont, NH, and NY Statutes for State Active Duty
USERRA
• Guaranteed* return to previous job or one that they would have held had they not been placed on military service (escalator)
• Return to equivalent position rank/ seniority, pay, and status
• Immediate reinstatement of benefits• Service time counts towards vesting or service
requirements• Members of respective “reserves” of the various armed
forces covered same as members of the Guard*provided they fulfill requirements of USERRA
Family Military Leave Entitlements
• FMLA changes – January 2009
• Critical exigency – covered/eligible/7 conditions for max of a total of 12 weeks FML
• Caregiver – 26 weeks (taken concurrent with FMLA and combined total of FMLA not to exceed 26 weeks)
Who to Contact
• Your organizational EAP
• Vermont Guard Military Family Life Consultant (802-338-3000)
• VT Brain Injury Association of Vermont
• Vermont Voc Rehab
Action Steps
• Sign an Employer Statement of Support today
• Register jobs with www.VermontJobLink.com (VDOL)
• Register jobs with www.H2H.jobs (no charge!)
• Review Lisa Rosser’s guide for HR Professionals as well as Hiring America’s Heroes http://www.thevalueofaveteran.com/hiring_guide.html (Code vtesgr)
• Establish a company military hiring strategy http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/HiringToolkit
• Sign up with VT ESGR to be a career coach for our veterans – contact Pamela Brown at: [email protected]
Thank You!
• To over 50 HR professionals from around the state who participated as job search coaches this past year during our Career Skills & Small Business Workshops!
• To all organizations who supported deployed Guard/Reserve members and their loved ones!
• To the employers who supported citizen soldiers activated to respond to Tropical Storm Irene
Serving Our Nation… Together!
We ALL Serve!
