Photo Credit: Department of Defense. Pictured left to right: Patricia M. Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy; Paul Norman, Vice President of Talent Acquisition, Sevita; Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
As part of an ongoing commitment to strengthen its diverse and inclusive workforce, Sevita has been inducted into the U.S. Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Program (MSEP). Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., welcomed the new companies into the partnership during an induction ceremony and annual event in Arlington, Virginia, on October 25.
The Military Spouse Employment Program (MSEP) partners with companies across the United States to provide recruitment and employment solutions for military spouses – a population of highly qualified individuals that experiences higher unemployment rates and wage gaps than their civilian counterparts, often due to the demands of military family life and frequent relocation. Employers inducted into the program undergo an intense and robust vetting process by Department of Defense professionals.
According to the Department of Defense, there are currently about 1 million military spouses. Over the past decade, the rate of unemployment has been steady at around 21%, as it is a challenge for military spouses to find and maintain employment with frequent permanent change of station moves. MSEP currently partners with more than 600 employers that have hired over 250,000 military spouses since its inception in 2011. The goal of the program is to provide education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide.
“Our employees are at the heart of Sevita’s mission-based purpose, and we believe military spouses are a great fit for our organization and the work we do caring for others. Sevita’s culture of respect and inclusion, growth and opportunity, and responsibility to our communities aligns with military values,” said Paul Norman, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Sevita. “As a national provider of home and community-based health care services, we offer opportunities in 41 states, flexible work schedules, remote work opportunities, professional growth and development, and the opportunity to develop caring and long-lasting relationships with the individuals we serve.”
Sevita proudly commits to recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting military veterans, active duty members, and military spouses, and there are currently more than 3,400 employees who report having served in the military. The partnership with the MSEP is aligned with the company’s mission to help the individuals we support live a full, more independent life, despite the challenges they face. The MSEP partnership is an opportunity for Sevita to strengthen connections within the military community to help military spouses find and maintain meaningful employment, job satisfaction, and career progression while they face the challenge of frequent relocation.