The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued an e-mail reminder recently to interested federal contractors that they still have time to submit online applications to be considered for the 2020 “HIRE Vets Medallion Award,” which is given annually to employers that have demonstrated their commitment to hire and retain veterans in “good, family-sustaining” careers. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only one of its kind given out by the federal government. The voluntary program is open to all employers, and is administered by DOL’s Veterans Employment and Training Service (DOLVETS). Online applications must be submitted to DOL-VETS by April 30, 2020.
To encourage the participation of federal contractors, OFCCP’s reminder notes that contractors “who apply for and receive the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Award would not need to submit a VETS-4212 Report in the year following receipt of a HIRE Vets Medallion Award under the President’s budget.” While that certainly might create an incentive for some contractors to apply, such a VETS-4212 filing waiver would have to be enacted into law, and there is no indication as to when or even whether Congress might enact it.
Still, the HIRE Vets Medallion Award gives public recognition to a company for its efforts to recruit and employ veterans in meaningful careers, and may be worth pursuing. A copy of OFCCP’s announcement is attached for your information. Interested employers can apply for the award online at https://www.hirevets.gov after first opening a Hire Vets Medallion account.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.