SHRM: Supports the Volunteer Veterans Preference Employment Policy Act

SHRM is calling on California to update its veterans’ employment preference exception because it applies only to Vietnam War-era veterans and provides protection to employers only against claims of gender discrimination.

«Consequently, this hiring preference does not extend to veterans who have served since the Vietnam War era and does not reflect the diverse nature of the military,» wrote Emily M. Dickens, SHRM’s chief of staff, head of government affairs and secretary of corporation. , and Michael Kalt, director of government affairs for the California State Council of SHRM (CalSHRM), in a letter to the California State Senate. Rep. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, who sponsored the legislation to update the law.

In a letter sent June 18, Dickens and Kalt expressed their support for SB 73, which would modernize the employment preference exception and allow private employers to offer broader preference to all veterans, regardless of when they served.

«SB 73 allows businesses to create veteran-friendly employment practices without fear of legal action and empowers them to give back to those who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation,» Seyarto said when introducing the legislation. «We need to pass practical policies that help our heroes.»

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, California has the largest veteran population in the nation, with nearly 2 million former service members in the state.

«SHRM and CalSHRM recognize the valuable skills and experience of veterans as a solution to the ongoing recruiting challenges employers face—as SHRM’s 2024 Talent Trends survey shows that 75 percent of organizations have struggled to fill positions full-time in the last 12 months.» Dickens and Kalt wrote.

Similar bills have recently been passed into law in 37 other states.

SB 73 is scheduled for a hearing by the California Assembly Judiciary Committee on June 25.

SHRM and CalSHRM are keenly aware of the difficulty some veterans face when seeking employment and believe that allowing an employer to exercise a voluntary employment preference exception for all veterans is a small way to thank them for their service. their to the creation of a US SB 73. the policy of voluntary preference for employers, if they wish to exercise this preference, is a fair and meaningful approach to assisting veterans in obtaining gainful employment, according to SHRM and CalSHRM.

SHRM urges California SHRM members to take action in support of the Volunteer Veterans Preference Employment Policy Act. This activation is only available to California SHRM members.