Seminar Helps Employers Understand Veteran HIring Laws

Tools

Story Published: Sep 16, 2008 at 5:20 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2008 at 3:00 PM MST

By Wes Horrocks

Video

POCATELLO - The Deparment of Labor (DOL) is offering seminars to help employers learn what laws they need to follow when hiring veterans. The goal is to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

Laws giving veterans specific employement rights have been around since the civil war. So today's seminar is really meant to be reminder. Tom Ressler, ID DOL Veterans Services Program supervisor said, "This kind of levels the playing field if you will."

The Department of Labor started planning the veteran hiring seminar after a complaint was filed against the city of Idaho Falls for allegedly violating the veteran preference law. Ron Tapia, ID DOL Veterans Representative said, "[The seminar teaches] there are guidelines, and maybe they didn't understand what the regulations were. Maybe they didn't understand that a veteran does get a preference because they served."

At the seminar employers were taught that when an employee is called up for active duty they're entitled to return to the same job. And when applying for government jobs veterans get preference points. Ressler said, "If there's a testing program for that particular job they get an additional amount of points for having been a veteran. And if thye're a disabled veteran they get a few more points."

The points are meant to help veterans make-up for lost time. If they hadn't served they would have had time to go to school, or gain other job-related experience.

If employers choose not to follow the guidelines the state could take them to court where they would face civil charges. Dale Langford, U.S. DOL Veterans Employment and Training Services director said, "They have to re-employ them. They have to make up all the back wages from the time they were gone, and that can amount to quite a bit of money over a few months."

By following the guidelines employers help keep their hiring practices fair. Langford said, "Overall we think that this is the employers way to be a patriotic citizen."

Another seminar will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Department of Labor office on Llincoln Rd. in Idaho Falls from noon to 3 PM.

Current Weather

Current Temp 41.0 °F

Fair

Video

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.