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Item # 6.
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| Town Council Regular Session |
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| Information |
| SUBJECT: |
| AMENDMENT TO PERSONNEL POLICY 7, EXAMINATIONS, ADDING A PROVISION FOR A VETERANS' PREFERENCE FOR EXTERNAL EMPLOYMENT RECRUITMENT |
| RECOMMENDATION: |
| Human Resources is recommending that a Veterans' Preference be added to Personnel Policy 7, Examinations, where eligible veterans, as evidenced by a DD form 214 or similar proof of eligible military service, who meet the minimum qualifications for the position, are guaranteed to receive an initial interview for the job they are applying for. The Veterans' Preference neither implies nor guarantees that the eligible, qualified veteran candidate will move on in the hiring process beyond the initial employment interview, nor does it imply a guarantee of employment. |
| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: |
| Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 38-492 requires that a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who is separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions following more than six months of active duty and who takes an examination for employment by this state or any political subdivision of this state under a merit system of employment as provided by section 38-491, in the determination of the veteran's final rating on the examination, shall be given a preference of five points over persons other than veterans. The statute goes on to say where applicants are assessed and evaluated, but scores are not given (as is the case in Oro Valley), preference shall be given by granting applicable preference codes to qualified applicants. The proposed Veterans' Preference brings the Town of Oro Valley recruiting procedures into compliance with A.R.S. 38-492. |
| BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: |
Although the national economy has rebounded from the great recession, veterans still struggle to secure employment. All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces offer transitional assistance programs to military members exiting service. The three to five day voluntary programs provide veterans training in areas such as drafting a resume, job search techniques and interview skills. While helpful to the veteran, it falls short of ensuring that veterans have a level playing field to compete for jobs.
The Veterans Administration estimates that only 1.3 percent of U.S. working adults served in the U.S. Armed Forces. For many veterans, they have never had to apply or interview for a job in order to promote in their careers. These two facts combined make it easy to see how a veteran may be at a significant disadvantage unless employers take positive steps to level the playing field for veterans. Guaranteeing an eligible, qualified veteran an initial interview affords the veteran the opportunity to fairly compete, and it allows the hiring authority the opportunity to objectively compare the skills and qualities of the veteran against all non-veteran candidates interviewed. |
| FISCAL IMPACT: |
| There is no fiscal impact. |
| SUGGESTED MOTION: |
| I MOVE to (approve or deny) the proposed amendment to Personnel Policy 7, Examinations, adding a Veterans' Preference to the Town of Oro Valley recruitment process. |
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