LAKEWOOD – Dale Peinecke, commissioner of the Washington Employment Security Department, and Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado Ramos, director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, today signed documents demonstrating their agencies’ support for hiring veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve.
“The men and women who have served in our military make valuable contributions to our state’s workforce,” Peinecke said. “At the Washington Employment Security Department, we are proud to employ men and women with military experience. They bring professionalism, leadership, a strong work ethic and a commitment to service. I’m also proud of the work of our WorkSource veterans teams who help connect employers with thousands of skilled veterans every year.”
"Our Guard and Reserve members are vulnerable, especially during wartime,” Alvarado said. “They pause their lives to serve our country and deserve every consideration for a seamless transition and continuing employment. Supporting them and their families in this continuity is the right thing to do.”
Peinecke and Alvarado signed the statements of support at WorkSource Lakewood, where they were joined by members of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and the Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency that promotes cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.
“Supportive employers like the Employment Security Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs allow Guardsmen and Reservists the opportunity to serve our country more effectively and with greater peace of mind,” said Ohad Lowy, ESGR volunteer. “The Statement of Support program is the cornerstone of ESGR’s efforts to gain and maintain employer support and encourages participating employers to act as advocates for employee participation in the military.”
Also in attendance were Workforce Central’s military workforce development manager and several WorkSource staff. They included two specialists who help veterans with disabilities and other severe employment barriers, and a veterans-employment representative who works directly with employers to promote the recruitment, hiring and retention of veterans. Last year, WorkSource provided services to 17,678 veterans statewide.
"Your Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs is also working hard to help veterans and their families connect to the No. 1 benefit our state can provide: a job,” Alvarado said. “Our role in that is to connect veterans to supportive services, sometimes including financial assistance, that can remove barriers and get veterans hired. We’ll also soon be unveiling an initiative asking local business owners to commit to hiring veterans, so stay tuned!”
In signing the statement of support, employers pledge:
· We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).
· Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
· We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire guardsmen, reservists and veterans.
· We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.