The hiring preference policy takes effect July 1.
Riverside, CA – Qualified veterans and their spouses seeking jobs in the county workforce will be guaranteed job interviews during the hiring process, under provisions of a revitalized veteran employment preference program approved. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, 5-0, to adopt an overhaul of the existing veteran hiring preference policy and a new veterans education and training policy.
The policies are components of the Veterans Improvement Program of Riverside County, brought forth by Supervisors V. Manuel Perez and Chuck Washington in December 2017. “This is the most veteran- and veteran spouse-friendly employment program in our state and likely in the country,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Veterans who have served our nation and our state are now ensured an interview for county positions. These important changes to our policies will aid our veterans and their spouses in finding jobs that utilize their talents, education and dedication to serving the public.”
The updated policy revamps Riverside County’s longstanding veteran employment preference program, which established a point-based preference system for veterans seeking employment with the County of Riverside. The program was decades old, and was testing-based. As many jobs do not require testing, the policy was in need of modernizing to make it more functional for veteran applicants and county departments.
The enhanced veteran hiring program improves the preference given to veterans by giving interviews to all qualifying veterans and spouses, provided that applicants meet the requirements of the job. All honorably discharged veterans and their spouses are eligible for the preference. Applicants are required to submit documented proof of the veteran’s honorable or general discharge, including a Form DD-214 or NGB-22, by the job-posting deadline.
The program, which was developed by the county’s Human Resources Department and Executive Office in conjunction with the county department of Veterans’ Services, will be implemented across all county departments. The hiring preference policy takes effect July 1.
A second policy, the Veterans Education and Training (VET) program, was also approved Tuesday. The VET program allows county departments to offer eligible veterans paid temporary apprenticeships or on-the-job training opportunities in a variety of occupational areas through the county’s Temporary Assignment Program.
Both Board policies, C-3 and C-20, can be found on the agenda document: http://riversidecountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1814
