Expert Career Planning Tips for Veterans

A number of brand-new advancements could affect the work of military service members and their families and employers' compliance obligations in 2026. Modifications vary from proposals to increase rewards for hiring military spouses to enhanced employment defenses for service members while on duty. Military spouse job opportunity and assistance remain a focus for pending legislation.

On November 20, 2025, Senators Costs Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Representatives Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) presented an upgraded version of the Improve and Improve the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act (S. 3265/H. R. 6231) that would extend the Work Chance Tax Credit (WOTC) to military partners. The WOTC supplies federal tax credits to companies that hire specific "American task seekers who have actually regularly dealt with barriers to work." That proposed legislation is similar to the Armed force Partner Hiring Act (H.R. 2033/S.1027), introduced earlier in 2025.

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Regular Relocations Regular movings continue to strain military households and can make it more tough for companies to work with and maintain military spouses. Expanding the WOTC could produce brand-new rewards for companies to work with military spouses and tap into this underutilized talent swimming pool. In addition, the Supporting Tours Across Years (STAY) Act (H.R. 6146), presented in November 2025, looks for to restrict relocations of active-duty servicemembers.

Navigating Military Spouse Employment Growth

The U.S. Congress has not yet taken up the STAY Act this year, but if it is eventually enacted, it could result in lowered PCS moves that might affect recruiting, retention, and remote-work policies for military partners. Military Re-Employment Protections Federal law currently supplies civilian employment leave defenses for veterans and service members who are involuntarily or voluntarily released for military service.

In January 2025, Congress enacted the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act (Dole Act), which included arrangements impacting USERRA enforcement and solutions. The Dole Act boosted anti-retaliation defenses and permitted complainants declaring USERRA offenses to look for minimum liquidated damages of $50,000 and attorneys' charges. Agencies and courts might continue to analyze and use the Dole Act's USERRA-related provisions.

New Employer Resources In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL/VETS) introduced a program for companies to seek guidance for ensuring compliance. The Assistance and Help for Leaders in USERRA Training and Work (SALUTE) program is a chance for employers to request technical guidance on USERRA-related concerns or particular issues in their labor force before the beginning of a DOL/VETS problem or lawsuit.

Priority actions consist of evaluating USERRA compliance programs and training, updating military leave and reemployment policies, validating health-benefit extension treatments, and lining up hiring and tax-credit screening procedures to quickly catch new rewards for military spouses. Ogletree Deakins' new Armed force Labor force Practice Group unites a team of legal representatives, much of whom are veterans or currently serving in the Reserves or National Guard, who frequently encourage on USERRA compliance, policy advancement, multistate implementation, and examinations and lawsuits.

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What Are the Best Financial Options for Veterans?

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For ten years, Employing Our Heroes has promoted military spouse work, creating paths to opportunity and driving systemic modification. As we celebrate this turning point, the 10th Annual Armed Force Spouse Employment Top will honor the legacy of progress while charting a bold course for the future. This year's summit focuses on Leadership & Legacy as we acknowledge the spouses, companies, and supporters who have actually changed the employment landscape and prepared the next generation to thrive in a progressing labor force.

Together, we will build on a years of service and success to develop a future where military partners lead with strength, vision, and function.

Military partners face one of the most persistent employment gaps in the American labor force., military spouse unemployment has actually hovered around 20% or greater in current years.