Information
Sheet
History: When the Employer
Awards Program was established in 1947, its purpose was to recognize
employers across the country who had established outstanding records
in the employment and retention of the disabled. The National
Economic Commission wanted to use its new awards program to educate
employers and the general public about the many positive aspects of
hiring disabled persons and thereby increase their employment
opportunities.
In conjunction with its
awards program, the commission also established "Employ the
Handicapped Week" which was observed each October. This later became
a national observance when succeeding presidents signed
proclamations declaring the first full week of each October to be
"National Employ the Handicapped Week." Today, like the federal
government, The American Legion observes "National
Disability/Employment Awareness Month," which is observed through
out the month of October.
Purpose: To confer recognition
on one employer in each state for an outstanding record in the
hiring and retention of the disabled.
Deadline: December 16th
to Department Headquarters
Procedure: Nominations
from Post, or sources outside the Legion, must be sent to Department
Headquarters. The Department then selects one nominee as its winner.
It then forwards the nomination form for the winning employer to the
National Economic commission.
Award: A plaque from the
National Economic Commission is given to the winner of each
Department.
Information Sheet
History: In 1958, the National
Economic Commission expanded its Employer Awards Program by creating
an award for employers of older workers. Because the commission saw
older workers as a valuable economic resource of proven skills,
stability and experience, it wanted to encourage employers to hire
and retain older workers in the work force. National 'Employ
the Older Worker Week," was established by The American Legion and
is observed during the second full week of each September. The
National Economic Commission believes that this particular award
category will become increasingly important over the next few years.
Several major studies have concluded that there will be fewer young
people entering the labor market. As a result, it will be necessary
for employers to encourage older workers to stay in the labor
force.
Purpose: To confer recognition
on one employer in each state for an outstanding record in the
hiring and retention of older workers.
Deadline: Received by
Department Headquarters by Dec. 16th.
Procedure: Nominations from
Posts, or sources outside the Legion, must be sent to Department
Headquarters. The Department then selects one nominee as its winner.
It then forwards the nomination form for the winning employer to the
National Economic Commission.
Award: The commission
provides a free plaque to each Department that submits a
nomination.
Information Sheet
History: The National Economic
Commission expanded its Employer Awards Program again in 1969 when
it created an award category for employers of veterans. Originally,
Departments were permitted to submit one nomination each for a large
and small employer of veterans. In 1992, the number of awards for em
ployers of veterans was increased. Today, Departments may submit one
nomi nation each for small companies with 50 or fewer employees,
medium sized >companies with work forces of 51-200 and large
companies with 201 or more employees.
Awards: In addition to the
Department awards for employers of veterans, there are also three
national awards for the "Employers of the Year." These awards, one
in each category, are presented at the National Convention. In order
to be eligible for the Employer of the Year Awards, nominees must
meet the following criteria:
1) At least 10% of the
nominees' work force must be veterans
2) The nominee must have
been in business for at least 5 years.
3) The nominee cannot
restrict employment to veterans only.
4) The nominee must be a
private sector employer. In other words, the nominee cannot be a
city, state or federal employer.
Selection of the
Employer of the Year Awards is made by the Economic Commission's
Awards Subcommittee, which meets during the Annual Washington
Conference. Each of the three national winners receive a stipend of
$1,000.00 to help defray the cost of their representative's travel
to the conference city to accept the award.
Purpose: To confer recognition
on one small, medium and large employer in each state for
outstanding records in the hiring and retention of veterans.
Deadline: Must be received in Dept. Headquarters by December 16th.
Procedure: Nominations from
Posts, or sources outside the Legion, must be sent to Department
Headquarters. The Department then selects one nominee each in the
small, medium and large employer categories.
Information Sheet
History: In 1990 a resolution
was introduced that called for the establishment of a national
awards program to recognize outstanding Employment Service (ES)
Offices and employees. Since such a program would require funding,
the delegates to The American Legion's Seventy-Second National
Convention voted to hold the resolution for further study.
Both the National Economic Commission and the Internal Affairs
Commission's Trophies and Awards Subcommittees conducted extensive
studies to determine the feasibility of establishing such an awards
program. At the conclusion of those studies, both recommended
approval and referred the resolution to the National Executive
Committee for final approval. The NEC unanimously approved the
resolution at its spring 1992 meeting.
Purpose: The purpose of the ES
Awards Program is to confer national recognition annually on one
outstanding Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER), and one
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist and one local
ES office. LVER and DVOP specialists work for the ES and provide job
counseling, testing and placement assistance to unemployed and
underemployed veterans.
Deadline: Received in
Dept. Headquarters by December 16th.
Procedure: Nominations from
Posts, ES employees or other sources must be sent to Dept.
Headquarters. A winner from each category will be selected and
forwarded to The National Economic Commission. A copy of the
nomination form and a written narrative must be provided by the
nominator. Also include any other supporting data that may be
pertinent.
Awards: The National Economic
Commission will provide a beautiful plaque for the winner in each
category . Runner-up will receive a certificate.
