U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Background: Over the past decade, three million veterans have returned from military service and another one million are expected to return to civilian life over the course of the next five years. The particular challenges faced by veterans with disabilities in obtaining employment has been the subject of increased attention in recent months, as large numbers of veterans return from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thirty-six percent of veterans of recent conflicts report having service-connected disabilities, as opposed to only 22 percent of all veterans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Through our private sector enforcement and litigation efforts, our policy and outreach work, and through our federal sector hearings, appeals, and coordination work, EEOC employees perform important services to veterans, ensuring that their rights to equal employment opportunity are upheld.
Below is a summary of what EEOC is doing for Veterans:
These are only highlights of the EEOC's work in this area. We remain committed to removing barriers to employment for veterans with disabilities - the EEOC's emphasis on helping those who sacrificed for our country remains an important initiative.
"It is EEOC's mission to ensure that all Americans - including veterans - enjoy the right to be treated fairly, without prejudice and discrimination. We want veterans to know that we have the resources to assist them and to ensure that they reach their full potential in the civil workforce," said Acting EEOC Chair Victoria A. Lipnic.