Blue Star Families, the largest national non-profit dedicated to supporting military families, has joined forces with the Hiring Our Heroes Program to combat high unemployment rates among military spouses. The Hiring Our Heroes Program is a renowned initiative that assists transitioning service members in finding meaningful careers.
In a news release issued by Blue Star, it was announced that the two organizations are launching the 4+1 Commitment, a nationwide endeavor aimed at reducing the 21% unemployment rate prevalent among military families. Over the past decade, military spouse unemployment has consistently been five times higher than the national average. This new commitment presents an opportunity for employers to actively participate in improving hiring outcomes for military families. It encourages employers to adopt at least one of several proposed employment policies for military spouses, including facilitating job transferability, offering remote or telework options, providing flexible work hours and paid leave. These measures are expected to assist military spouses in building sustainable careers that can contribute significantly to their family's well-being.
A document released by Blue Star reveals that Starbucks played a pivotal role in developing the 4+1 Commitment. The global coffee company was the first to sign this commitment and has since initiated a transfer program aimed at promoting job retention among military members. Other key contributors include USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed Credit Union who have invested significantly in this innovative approach to support military families. Research indicates that difficulties related to spouse employment can severely impact family financial readiness.
"The 4+1 Commitment is the missing piece in the puzzle of solving the military spouse unemployment crisis," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, co-founder and CEO of Blue Star Families. "We're proud to present this initiative with Hiring Our Heroes and in partnership with the Department of Defense's Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and are excited to expand our work bringing together the public, private, and non-government sectors together to create meaningful solutions." Roth-Douquet further added that the two organizations are urging 1,000 companies to commit to retaining more military spouses. The financial strain of relying on a single income has made it increasingly difficult for military families to meet their financial needs. Through the 4+1 Commitment, the aim is to significantly reduce the military spouse unemployment rate and bring financial stability to military families across the United States.
