Skip to main content
Please verify your email and reset your password to enter our NEW Account Center Password Reset

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and while that often means the unofficial kickoff to summer, it is officially a holiday to honor the men and women of our armed forces for their courage and sacrifice. And what better way to thank veterans for their service than to offer them a career?

 

The Member Action Center answers questions about hiring military veterans from time to time.  So if you are hiring and want to give a veteran a chance, there are resources available to your company.  I should point out that most of the programs do require that the veteran have some sort of an employment barrier, such as a long-term unemployment or a service-related disability.

 

If you are open to hiring veterans like this, you could save a few thousand dollars on your federal taxes. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit provides federal tax credits of $2,400 to $9,000 to hire the disabled, certain veterans, general assistance recipients and ex-felons. The idea is to enable employees to gradually move from economic dependency to self-sufficiency.

 

Ready to Work New Jersey takes a more comprehensive approach. This program can help you find the right workers with the right skill sets, and will help with training, job development services and on-the-job training. Veterans are given preference.

 

Businesses in certain high-demand industries can also qualify for up to 90 percent of the worker’s salary or wage cost during the training period. The qualifying industry sectors are information technology, pharmaceutical/life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

 

Finally, NJBIA has partnered with JobPath, a service that connects military veterans to companies that are committed to hiring them. In addition to being a job search service, JobPath provides veterans with opportunities to improve their skills through proven job-training courses. As an NJBIA member, you can reach out to: Jack Fanous, 856-430-8107, or jack.fanous@yourjobpath.com.

 

Stefanie Riehl is NJBIA’s vice president of Member Value and runs the Member Action Center. If you need assistance with a law or regulation, call 1-800-499-4419 or email member411@njbia.org.