For military spouses, multi-tasking is the name of the game when the spouse is away for months on end. About 92% of military spouses are women, and with work, kids, and household responsibilities, they’re far from desperate housewives.
That’s why Military Spouse magazine has created a list of what it calls the nation’s “Top Military Spouse-Friendly Employers.”
Executive editor Babette Maxwell notes that these women are “master multi-taskers. These women are patriots who give 110% to companies that appreciate them.”
The magazine looked at 2,500 companies (minimum of $1 billion annual revenue) that make significant efforts to recruit military spouses.
The companies Maxwell and her editorial team selected include: USAA, Army & Air Force Exchange Service, RE/MAX, The Home Depot, Wachovia, Computer Sciences Corporation, Sears Holdings, Kelly Services, Lockheed Martin, and Starbucks.
Rich McCormack, Military Spouse’s content chief, agrees that “large corporations, which have built solid military spouse recruiting programs, will enjoy competitive advantages over their peers, given the tight labor market. The companies on our list have done just that.”
USAA was noted on the list for its uber-flexible HR policies to accommodate military spouse employees who face deployments, mobilizations, and transfers. The magazine was also impressed that USAA has a stated goal to ultimately comprise 20% of its workforce with military and military spouses.
Kelly Services made the list because of its nationwide opportunities and flexibility, a perk for spouses who are used to transferring frequently to new cities.
“Relocation can be an overwhelming experience. The thought of having to start all over, especially with regard to a career, can be very intimidating,” said Jocelyn Lincoln, senior director, Americas Marketing Group for Kelly Services, in a statement.
“Kelly recognizes the value military spouses bring to the workforce and offers military spouses flexible, portable career opportunities that can help reduce some of the obstacles that can accompany frequent moves,” said Lincoln.
Other recent initiatives to help military spouses find meaningful yet flexible employment options include Military.com’s Military Spouse Career Center, which offers certified career coaches to help military spouses set career goals, write resumes and cover letters, and search for jobs.
Also, the RAND Corporation recently started research for the Department of Defense to study the occupational choices of military spouses and recommend actions to support military spouse employment. Specifically, it was looking for military spouses who are female and currently employed in either nursing, education, financial/accounting, or information technology.