Verizon has been named to the G.I. Jobs Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers List for 2012 in recognition of the company's military recruiting and hiring practices. This recognition is the latest in a series of honors Verizon has received for its long-standing commitment to recruiting, hiring and supporting military veterans.
The G.I. Jobs magazine's Top 100 list was drawn from a sample of 5,000 companies whose annual revenues exceeded $500 million. Criteria included the strength of company military-recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, retention programs and company policies toward National Guard and Reserve service. Verizon employs nearly 12,000 veterans and has hired more than 550 veterans this year.
"At Verizon, we believe that hiring veterans is not only the right thing to do, but also makes perfect business sense," said Al Torres, vice president of talent management at Verizon. "With their mission-driven attitudes, superb training, technical skills and leadership capabilities, our 12,000 veterans play a crucial role in making Verizon the best in our industry."
Verizon has a variety of programs to support veterans and their families. One program assists employees who are married to active-duty members by finding the employee jobs within Verizon, near where their spouses are assigned. The company's veteran advisory board provides recognition, mentoring and development of veteran employees. Verizon is also implementing a leadership development program for veteran interns.
In addition to actively recruiting and hiring employees with military experience, Verizon offers benefits to employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves, including some of the best corporate leave policies in the country.
Verizon's emergency military leave benefit allows employees to continue serving their country while working at Verizon. When an employee who is in the Reserves or National Guard is activated in support of international antiterrorism and peacekeeping operations, Verizon, for up to 36 months:
- Pays the difference in the employee's Verizon base pay and military base pay
- Continues health care and other benefits
Verizon also has a number of external partnerships to further advocate the hiring of veterans, including Employer Support of Guard and the Reserve, Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Hiring Our Heroes and Wounded Warrior Project.
Providing legal support for returning veterans is also a key part of the pro bono program sponsored by Verizon's legal department. In partnership with the National Veterans Legal Services Project, Verizon attorneys provide pro bono legal assistance in support of veterans injured in combat or other hazardous duty.
The program has helped these veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Verizon attorneys have also helped returning veterans start small businesses and recently volunteered at an event serving more than 700 homeless veterans needing food, clothing and help reconnecting with loved ones.
Earlier this year, G.I. Jobs' sister publication, Military Spouse, named Verizon to its list of America's Military Spouse-Friendly Employers. In May, CivilianJobs.com named Verizon to the organization's Most Valuable Employers for Military.
Last week, Verizon was the main sponsor of a global veterans career expo hosted by Hire Disability Solutions LLC at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. At the event, Verizon received the Corporate Hero Award for the company's commitment to excellence in hiring employees with military experience.
Headquartered in New York, Verizon Communications Inc. is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide.
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