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Walmart takes a smart step by hiring veterans
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I applaud Walmart for announcing the hiring of 100,000 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts starting on Memorial Day. This plan is a step in the right direction to help military veterans who earned our nation's support, many by doing so the hard way, by serving in combat.
This employment surge should also include veterans from the Vietnam War and others who served before the current conflicts who need to augment their income or support their family.
It would be advisable for employers to contact the Veterans Administration to learn about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues that veterans may have when returning to the civilian work place. Most veterans served in positions of leadership and great responsibility, so having them stocking shelves or other entry-level positions could be counterproductive or perceived as demeaning to a veteran.
Veterans know how to take orders but civilian supervisors need to know there is a right way and a not-so-right way to give direction to military veterans who have earned our respect.
I hope that other employers strongly consider hiring veterans from all eras. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is a good business practice.
DONN NEMCHICK
Veterans Project Coordinator
Riverside Center for Innovation
North Side
The writer is a Vietnam-era veteran and former veterans business development officer for the Small Business Administration in Pittsburgh.
First Published January 20, 2013 12:00 am
