HIRE Vets Medallion Award
The International Franchise Association (IFA) and VetFran encourages its members to apply for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level award that recognizes employers of all sizes for their leadership in recruiting, employing, and retaining America’s veterans. Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2022.
“IFA’s research shows that veterans punch above their weight in franchising, making up 14% of franchisees and hiring their fellow veterans at a high rate as well,” said IFA President and CEO Matt Haller. “The HIRE Vets Medallion Award provides an important opportunity to recognize employers – franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers alike -who are supporting the heroes who have served our nation.”
Past winners of the HIRE Vets Medallion award include several members of the IFA Foundation’s VetFran program. The VetFran program focuses on getting more veterans into franchising through education on the unique match between the skills and aptitude of entrepreneurial veterans and the demands and opportunities of being a franchisee plus facilitating the transition of veterans into franchising through discounts, incentives, and resources for veterans seeking franchise opportunities.
If you have made an effort to hire at least one veteran in the past year, you should take a look at the requirements, and see if your company qualifies for this outstanding award from the Department of Labor.
The HIRE Vets Medallion Award was established through the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017 (HIRE Vets Act), which was signed into law in May of 2017.
Applicants are evaluated on a range of criteria, including veteran hiring and retention rates, the availability of veteran-specific resources like leadership programs and dedicated human resources, as well as compensation and tuition assistance programs. Individual franchisees, multi-unit franchisees, and corporate offices of each brand are all eligible to apply.
To complete the application process, employers must verify that their company meets the award requirements, pay the application fee, and ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act (VEVRAA).