Unlocking Specialized Financial Aid Resources

Numerous brand-new advancements could affect the employment of military service members and their households and companies' compliance obligations in 2026. Modifications range from proposals to increase rewards for employing military partners to enhanced work protections for service members while on responsibility. Military partner job opportunity and assistance stay 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 updated variation 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 spouses. The WOTC offers federal tax credits to companies that work with particular "American task seekers who have actually regularly dealt with barriers to employment." That proposed legislation is comparable to the Military Spouse Hiring Act (H.R. 2033/S.1027), presented earlier in 2025.

apfsc.org

Frequent Movings Frequent relocations continue to strain military households and can make it more challenging for employers to hire and maintain military spouses. Expanding the WOTC could develop brand-new incentives for employers to hire military partners and take advantage of this underutilized talent pool. In addition, the Supporting Tours Throughout Years (STAY) Act (H.R. 6146), presented in November 2025, looks for to restrict movings of active-duty servicemembers.

Unlocking New Financial Aid Resources

The U.S. Congress has actually not yet taken up the STAY Act this year, but if it is ultimately enacted, it might result in minimized 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 protections for veterans and service members who are involuntarily or voluntarily released for military service.

The Dole Act boosted anti-retaliation defenses and allowed complainants alleging USERRA offenses to look for minimum liquidated damages of $50,000 and lawyers' fees. Agencies and courts might continue to translate and use the Dole Act's USERRA-related provisions.

New Company Resources In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Work and Training Service (DOL/VETS) released a program for employers to seek assistance for guaranteeing compliance. The Support and Support for Leaders in USERRA Training and Work (SALUTE) program is an opportunity for employers to demand technical assistance on USERRA-related concerns or specific issues in their labor force before the start of a DOL/VETS complaint or claim.

Top priority actions include examining USERRA compliance programs and training, updating military leave and reemployment policies, validating health-benefit continuation treatments, and aligning hiring and tax-credit screening procedures to quickly record new rewards for military spouses. Ogletree Deakins' new Armed force Workforce Practice Group combines a group of attorneys, many of whom are veterans or currently serving in the Reserves or National Guard, who routinely advise on USERRA compliance, policy development, multistate application, and examinations and litigation.

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For 10 years, Hiring Our Heroes has actually championed military partner work, creating pathways to chance and driving systemic change. As we commemorate this milestone, the 10th Yearly Military Partner Employment Summit will honor the tradition of development while charting a strong course for the future. This year's summit focuses on Leadership & Tradition as we acknowledge the partners, employers, and supporters who have transformed the work landscape and prepared the next generation to grow in a progressing workforce.

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

Military spouses face one of the most relentless work gaps in the American workforce., military spouse unemployment has hovered around 20% or higher in recent years.