How To Implement A Veteran Preference In Hiring

Today 39 states, including Oklahoma, have laws allowing private employers to voluntarily give preference to veterans in hiring, promotion, and retention decisions. Private employers have myriad reasons for choosing to give preference to veterans in employment decisions, including a commitment to honoring the service and sacrifice of service members, state and federal tax incentives, federal contractor affirmative action requirements, or valuing military skills and experience and their applicability to the private workplace. So, if your organization is interested in considering such a preference, here's how:

First, you will have to decide how broadly to apply such a preference. Will it apply solely to hiring or to other employment decisions such as promotions or retention (such as during a RIF)? Companies have flexibility in how broadly or narrowly to implement the preference.