The additional stress of being a parent or spouse in the military community can make finding and keeping a job even harder. For this reason, the military community has been a primary focus for FMLA legislation over the past 20 years. Recent changes to FMLA specifically address issues faced by the military community.

The modern employee is no longer tied to a cubicle with the use of laptops, tablets and smart phones use dominating the workplace.

Updates to Exigency Leave

The biggest changes came in defining and extending what is considered exigency leave. Members and family members of all regular Armed Forces and National Guard or Reservists qualify for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave due to active duty or a call to duty. The definition of active duty was further clarified to specify only orders to or in a foreign country count.

Exigency leave also now includes parental care, where time may be taken off to arrange for the care of the parents of a military member. This doesn’t include providing the care themselves, but does cover the time it takes to arrange care from a third party.

Additionally, family members are now eligible to spend up to 15 calendar days bonding with a military member on R&R. These days may be taken intermittently and the number of days available should correspond to the length of leave.

Military Caregiver Leave

Eligible FMLA employees whose family members are recent veterans with injuries or illnesses that were caused by or aggravated by their service and this includes illnesses that present themselves during and or up to five years after service. Further explanation of covered illnesses can be found here or on the DOL website.

FMLA & The Modern Workplace

Other updates include expanding health care provisions, flight crew eligibility requirements and new rules for calculating the increments of intermittent FMLA leave. Although the protection provided by the FMLA is very useful for employees, especially those in the military community, there are some shortcomings that the law struggles to address. First, only about 60 percent of employees in the U.S. are covered, leaving the rest at the mercy of employers who may not be sympathetic to the work-life balance.

Additionally, the workplace itself is changing for many companies and the law should be following suit. Many companies are adopting more flexible schedules and considering the heavy reliance on the Internet and computers, the modern employee is more mobile than ever and potentially able to work from home. Just as it is interesting to see how FMLA has changed over the years due to the needs of the communities that use it most, it will be interesting to see how FMLA changes to a culture that values a work-life balance more than ever before.

Image courtesy eperales

Many military spouses have found that self-owned businesses offer the mobility and flexibility they need. Think you have what it takes to be your own boss? Read on for tips from military spouses-turned-entrepreneurs and a list of specific start-up resources available to military families.

Benefits of a self-owned business

Use the skills you have and build on those.

• Mobile For families constantly on the move, a business that’s based online may be best. According to Army wife Anna Conrad, a business and clientele that can be easily moved was very appealing to her. Conrad sells her jewelry online at Etsy. “We’ll only be (in W. Virginia) a short while,” the stay-at-home mother of two said. “But I know with a community like the one I’ve found at Etsy, I can take my little shop with me every time we move.”

• Flexible Conrad says she enjoys the freedom to work around her family’s schedule. “I have two very active kids. This way, I work when I can and don’t have to worry about missing out on everything they have going on.”
• Tailored to your specific skill set Amy Nester also runs a business using the Internet to sell something she enjoys making. She started making cakes in a jar during her fiance’s deployment to provide a taste of home for him and his battalion mates. Now, the 25-year-old — who’s been decorating cakes since she was a teenager — takes order and bakes cakes out of her home to ship to to customers in the U.S. and overseas.

• Supplement your spouse’s income Conrad started her jewelry business as a hobby, but says she likes being able to make a little extra income for her family. “It definitely wouldn’t pay all the bills, but it gives us a little more comfort month to month.”

Tips for getting started

Assess your needs, mobility and flexibility may be more important to you than to the next person so find something that fits your needs.

• Follow your passion Conrad and Nester both said choosing something you enjoy doing is your best bet for success. “I’m obsessed with creating jewelry,” Conrad said. “I love what I do and hardly a day that goes by that I don’t create something new.” Nester agreed. “I’m passionate about decorating cakes. It gives me an awesome way to show my creativity.”
• Figure out a business plan “You have to have a realistic plan going into something like this. Don’t expect to make money right away. Don’t expect to have a ton of orders right away. Know what you can afford to spend to get things started,” Nester said. “That’s why it helps to pick something you really enjoy doing. That way, when the going gets tough, you’re motivated to keep going anyways.”
• Talk to others with a similar goal Conrad said talking to other business-minded military spouses can be a huge help. “I have friends I’ve met on or near base who are also active on Etsy, and we definitely talk shop sometimes. We talk about ways to reach new customers or lower the cost of production.” If you don’t know anyone personally who shares your entrepreneurial spirit, reach out to others online. For Etsy users, teams like The Homefront and the Etsy Military Wives Team are a great place to start.

It’s a lot of work: many self-owned business owners work more hours after they started their business than when they worked for someone else.

Other Resources

There are a number of resources available online to help military spouses get their businesses up and running. Consider joining the Military Spouse Business Association, an organization started by three military spouses that is dedicated to helping other would-be entrepreneurs. Membership is free and gives you access to information about how to start a business compatible with your military lifestyle and an ability to reach out to other military spouses who own their own businesses.

Need funding? Sprigster’s Boost a Hero program provides crowdfunding for projects of all types. This funding is specifically available to veterans and military spouses.

Photo courtesy of Nikki Cookie Baker, wickenden and Seth W. 

Unemployment is a major problem facing military spouses and it seems that state licensure regulations aren’t helping the issue.

Anyone familiar with the military lifestyle knows that moving is an unavoidable aspect. Maintaining meaningful long-term employment for military spouses through several moves is a crushing stressor for military families.

Key inhibitors to maintaining employment for military spouses are state licensure laws. According to a study by the Department of Defense, more than 35 percent of military spouses have jobs that require some type of state-specific license or certification, and many of these must be renewed every time you move.

We recently contacted Bianca Strzalkowski, a director at Blue Star Families and founder of the Military Spouse Education Initiative, to learn more about what is being done to help out military spouses facing this issue. We were surprised to learn that 27 percent of respondents to a Blue Star survey have faced some type of complication in renewing or applying for an employment license when moving across state lines.

With these high numbers in mind, Michelle Obama met with governors of all states as part of the Joining Forces initiative in February to express the need for legislation aimed at simplifying and expediting this process for military spouses to ensure our nation gives ample opportunity to employ those who are sacrificing so much already.

Easing Licensing Burdens

Twenty-six states have since passed legislation to help military spouses keep licensure across state lines — most recently, North Carolina on July 17. While this impressive and a great first step, Strzalkowski is hoping that the remaining states follow in their footsteps by drafting and passing legislation soon.

The Department of Defense has also released examples of a number of initiatives and rule changes that best ease the process for military spouses. Everything from licensure by endorsement to temporary licensing are meant to ease the financial burden on military families as well as expedite the generally time consuming process.

Curbing Unemployment

Bianca is hoping that public awareness of the sacrifices made by our nation’s military families as well as helpful legislation passed on a state-by-state basis can stop military spouse unemployment by simplifying the process of obtaining gainful employment.

For information concerning where your state stands on passing legislation concerning military spouse employment, check out this interactive map from the Department of Defense.

Photo courtesy Sean MacEntee

First Lady Michelle Obama recently announced that 11 employers will add 15,000 military-friendly jobs in the next two years.

Nearly a U.S. dozen companies have pledged to add 15,000 jobs for military spouses and veterans over the next two years.

First Lady Michelle Obama recently made the announcement as her “Joining Forces” program neared its one-year anniversary. The initiative aims to spread awareness and support military families by focusing on education, employment and wellness.

“We’re working hard on their behalf because we’re proud of them,” Mrs. Obama told reporters. “Whatever comes up in life along the way, these types of
jobs will give them the type of flexibility and portability they’ll need to succeed, not just in their careers, but the rest of their lives as well.”

Eleven private companies agreed to add jobs as part of the administration’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

Flexible Jobs

Unemployment continues to plague the military community, and spouses haven’t been spared. Between being the only caretaker for the family during deployments and the strong possibility of moving across state lines, even the best-qualified military spouses have difficulty finding employment.

This hiring wave is designed to perhaps fit better with the military lifestyle. Many of these jobs can be done from home and are easily transferable to new locations or are located near military bases. The flexibility of working from home or near base helps spouses find work and, most importantly, keep it.

“Military spouses often are the most talented and most resilient and most employable people around,” Mrs. Obama said.

New Companies

The hope with this initiative is to meet military spouses where they are as opposed to offering jobs that are impractical. Check out the list of some highlighted companies along with their pledges to provide military-friendly jobs:

• Alpine Access: 3,000 military-connected Americans over two years.
• Arise Virtual Solutions: 10,000 over the next several years.
• DialAmerica: Increase military-related employees to 20 percent by 2014.
• Hilton Hotels: Additional 3.5 percent of Hilton@Home positions to military spouses.
• Prosperity America: Hire 50 new veteran and military spouse employees.
• Quality Contact Solutions: Creating 150 new at-home positions over the next two years for military spouses.
• Agility Marketing: Adding 100 jobs for military spouses and veterans.
• QCSS Inc.: Ensuring at least 10 percent of new hires will be military spouses.
• SP Data: Adding over 150 new jobs for military spouses and veterans over two years.
• Veteran Call Center, LLC: Creating an additional 1,000 jobs for military spouses and veterans over the next two years.

Photo courtesy of AN HONORABLE GERMAN via Flickr.

Confidence and preparation can help stay-at-home parents re-enter the workforce successfully.

College graduates aren’t the only ones nervous about building résumés and interviewing for jobs. Military and civilian stay at home parents removed from the workforce for years can struggle to return to a changed landscape.

But confidence and careful preparation can help ease the transition.

Confidence

When it comes to getting a job, the value of confidence can’t be understated. Take a step back and decide what you aren’t confident about. Re-entering the workforce can certainly seem overwhelming.

Many people are worried their skills have gotten rusty during their employment hiatus. If you’re feeling unsure about your skills, consider a skill-building class or two in your community, read about new programs online or ask a tech-savvy friend for some help getting reacquainted.

If it’s the set 9 to 5 schedule that concerns you, consider looking for a part-time or temporary job to start the transition. Temp agencies can be great for more flexible and short-term employment and also offer a chance to build some experience and skills for your résumé.

Many interviewees are nervous when it comes to talking about salary. Discussing money can be dicey because you want to sound confident without being demanding. Don’t walk in expecting to take a big pay cut or to make significantly more than you have in the past. Just understand that you have valuable skills and that you should be paid current market value for them.

Stay-at-home parents can look for ways to recast their experiences for prospective employers.

Résumés

Building your résumé after years away from work can be confusing and difficult. It’s natural to worry about how the gap in employment will look.

You may want to include skills you use as a “family manager.” Consider your time organizing everything for your family as an unpaid internship. Whether you were organizing schedules or budgeting household expenses, these skills are easily transferable to the workplace.

When looking for ways to fill the employment gap, think about all of the experiences and activities you’ve done as a parent. Use volunteer experience, especially if you had a leadership role, to show that you utilize valuable skills even when you aren’t getting paid.

Another important tip is to tweak your résumé every time you send it out. Look at the job posting and switch up your résumé to include or highlight the skills you believe the company is looking for. Personalizing your résumé can give you a competitive edge as opposed to sending out stagnant information.

Walk The Walk

Dress the part to help ensure you have the best interview possible. Tuxedos and ball gowns aren’t necessary, but dress in proper business attire and always carry yourself in a professional manner. Arrive early, sit up straight and show the company they would be lucky to hire you.

Family Friendly

Another consideration is how family friendly the company will be. Smaller companies tend to be more flexible with parents, especially military spouses, who have a number of additional responsibilities. Working Mother Magazine publishes a list of the 100 best companies for working moms and its list is a good place to start. Don’t be afraid to ask how flexible your schedule will be and about any programs available for working parents.

Overall the best advice for a stay-at-home parent looking to re-enter the workforce is to be confident in your abilities and know that even after a break you have valuable skills.

Photos courtesy of begottsab and photologue_np.

Keep your eyes off the clock and avoid short time syndrome.

“Honey, we’ve got orders” are four of the most powerful words in the military community. Once you hear them you know you’ve got to pack up, move bases and essentially start over in a new place and make new friends.

A common tip in the military community is to try and anticipate these changes. But what happens when an expectation of moving in the future keeps you from enjoying life where you are now?

Think of it as “short time syndrome.” You’ve just moved to a new base but you’re so busy anticipating your next move that you don’t bother joining any groups, making any friends or even exploring the surrounding area. For many this anti-social plan is just easier than going through the trouble of making new friends when you know you’ll probably be moving again.

We’ll take a look at why this syndrome can be damaging and provide some steps to prevent it.

Why Short Time Syndrome is Bad

You may wonder what’s so bad about deciding you aren’t going to get out and meet people at a new base. The main problem is missing out on an important support system. PCSing and deployments often go hand in hand and having other people in the military community to help or just hear you out can completely change your mindset for the better. So meeting new people is good, but how do you override your brain telling you to not get attached?

Don’t Overextend

At first this tip may seem counterintuitive. But in the grand scheme of PCSing and staying happy not overextending yourself is very important. Taking on too many activities and getting burned out can lead to poor contributions, shallow friendships and a lack of interest in getting involved later on.

Don’t stress out or overextend yourself; stay relaxed and enjoy your new home.

Invest in Yourself

Investing in yourself is a great way to make sure you aren’t just focusing on the next move. Some spouses decide to take classes and work toward a degree; others pick up a hobby. Either way, you’re working to develop skills and better yourself. Classes or hobbies can fill your free time and fulfill your passions.

Community Projects

Taking on a community project can ensure you’re getting involved where you currently live. Projects and the organizations attached to them are a great way to meet new people and help out the community at the same time. Whether this is something like building a park or organizing an event with the PTA, don’t be afraid to help out.

Take a Minute

At the end of the day, the best way to avoid short time syndrome is to take some time for reflection. There are going to be good and bad things about every place you go and you’ll be a lot happier focusing on the good things.

Apply the concept of reflection to a lot of aspects of living on a new base. Take a minute to say hello and meet someone new. Take a minute to listen and help out someone if you can. Take a minute to explore your new surroundings. Take a minute to be thankful for the good things in your life. You’ll find that taking time to think about positive things can help your outlook.

Short time syndrome often means avoiding life. If we avoided relationships or friendships that might end one day, we would never meet anyone. Keep this idea in mind the next time you PCS and remember to get out there and meet new people and get involved.

Photos courtesy of Dave Stokes and nanny snowflake

For years military spouses were left struggling to find new jobs, shuffling stacks of paperwork and tiptoeing around miles of red tape just to get settled in a new state. The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, signed in 2009, makes these moves a little bit easier in that it allows military families to move without having to change their state residence!

Military spouses should all be aware of this legislation and how the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act works in your favor to relieve some stress when you’re faced with your next PCS.

Military Spouse Residency Relief Act helps remove some of the burden of moving across state lines.

Drivers License

One of the most common annoyances associated with a PCS is having to renew your license and registration in a new state. Unless you’re a fan of taking the driver’s test three, four or more times, the constant trips to the DMV are most likely an annoyance. And that doesn’t count the fees you incur getting a new license each time.

Because the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act allows you to remain a resident of your last state, you can keep your previous license and registration free of penalty as long as you only remain there under military orders.

Taxes

Taxes are another area where military families and spouses were left in a mess of paperwork that generally leads to unnecessarily paying too much on your taxes. The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act allows spouses to maintain their residency in their home state if desired so they will only need to pay the taxes for their state of residency.

This is especially beneficial if you are from one of the seven states without income tax. Regardless of your home state or current state, you’ll want to check out the state-specific rules, as the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act applies differently across certain states. You may want to consult a military legal specialist on base before deciding to switch residency.

Nursing Licensure

Nursing is a popular occupation for military spouses because of the significant need for trained medical professionals. In the past nurses faced with a PCS were forced to switch their state licensure within 30 days of moving, which in some cases can involve extra licensure fees not to mention the hassle of getting it.

Thankfully, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act allows military spouses moving due to government orders to continue practicing while in a different state than their licensure because they never technically switch their state of residency.

This benefit is only available to nurses with an active compact license moving to another state that participates in the compact licensure program. A full list of participating states and more information can be found at this link.

Photo courtesy of pheaber

Did you know that military spouses may qualify for unemployment?

Laid Off

Most Americans who receive unemployment compensation have been laid off, either permanently or temporarily. Normally being laid off means that you lost your job through no fault of your own, or, in other words, that you had no intention of leaving work. In most cases it was a management decision having to do with money and not a reflection of poor work ethic or being a bad employee.

Fired

Most people will jump to the conclusion that if they are fired from a job unemployment compensation isn’t an option. This isn’t always the case, though. One size doesn’t always fit everyone – that’s why most state unemployment offices will let you explain your situation. Putting together a cohesive argument that proves your firing was not a result of intentionally underperforming or act outing out is your best bet. Showing good work ethic, by getting a letter from a boss or co-worker, could help your case as well.

Quit

Its very important to stay on top of your unemployment claim.

Quitting a job could result in not being able to qualify for unemployment compensation. In order to qualify your state unemployment office will have a hearing to see if your quitting was the result of unsafe working conditions, abuse, harassment or other reasons that made the job a bad place to work. Being clear and concise with your argument will be go far in this hearing.

Relocation

More than 21 states now allow military spouses to receive unemployment when they quit due to relocation of their spouse and another 21 states allow this “exception” to be made on a case-by-case basis, usually at a hearing.

If you submit for unemployment while moving for a PCS make sure you submit a copy of your spouses orders with you unemployment paperwork even if you are not asked to do so initially. List your spouse’s military relocation as the reason why you quit your job on all forms. When you quit your job be sure to notify your employer in writing that you are quitting due to your spouse’s military relocation and keep a copy of this letter.

Most states allow you to resign or quit 30 days before the report date listed on your spouse’s orders, so be careful about quitting too early if you plan to file for unemployment.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has the state by state break down of military spouse unemployment compensation and requirements.

Filing Unemployment

Contact your state unemployment insurance office to see what kind of unemployment wages you qualify for.

After filing for unemployment and being granted wages your state will require you to register with a local workforce center to make sure you’re actively looking for a job. Staying active in the job hunt and showing evidence of this will be key to keeping for unemployment wages.

In many cases the office that you are required to register with will also offer services to help you get the job you want. These services range from help with your resume to help with your interviewing skills and even career counseling.

Photo courtesy of Sean MacEntee, Bytemarks

Unfortunately, if a spouse decides to take this route, they must be very cautious. According to LAPD financial crime detective Robert Rebhan, approximately 98 percent of work-at-home pitches are scams.

Here are 3 scam signs to prevent you from falling victim:

Company Contact

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

A person can tell a lot about a company simply by the way in which they initiate and conduct communication.

• Email Address: Be wary of a company that uses a generic free web email address such as Gmail, Yahoo!, AIM or Hotmail. Not every company that uses these is a scam, but because of how easily accessible these addresses are, scammers can create and cancel multiple accounts that cannot be tracked.

• Copy: If the wording of an email or any documents sent contains misspellings or poor grammar, you are probably not dealing with a legitimate company.

• Interview: A company is sketchy if you’re able to “start working” without any face-to-face contact for an interview.

• Ad Placement: Learning about a work-from-home job from craigslist.com can be a very risky idea. Many companies will use more reputable job sites if they choose to post online. Also, many scams place work-from-home ads on Google’s search engine ad placements.

The Sales Pitch

Work-from-home scams often make bold claims to high-paying opportunities, but Rebecca Herrera of the Better Business Bureau says that in the 25 years her office has been in existence, they have not seen a work-at-home offer that has made the profits it boasts.

Another thing to take notice of is a job that does not require any experience yet promises high income with little effort.

The Company Itself

Here are a few red flag characteristics of a company scam:

•  The company cannot be verified on any credible site
• A company is located overseas
• A company asks for personal banking information so the employee can use their own account to do business
• A fee is required to prove “serious commitment” to the offer
• Advanced payments are required for software to conduct the job
• The nature of the job follows typical scams such as envelop stuffing or rebate processing

Photo thanks to puresolitude via Flickr Creative Commons

While spouses may not easily develop a career-based resume, they can create a skill set for future career endeavors. Here are ways to develop and apply employer-desired skills:

Skills Acquired from Military Lifestyle

Adapting to the military lifestyle helps you create a unique skill set.

New environments, changing circumstances, enduring hardships, taking on multiple roles—they are all opportunities for growth. Here are some skills to consider for you resume:

• Flexibility/Adaptability

When a service member is called away for duty, military spouses might have to learn new tasks to manage the home, kids, pets and other responsibilities. They must be able to respond to plans that get extended or changed at the last minute. Employers appreciate an employee that is able to adapt quickly and be willing to take on new challenges.

• Diversity

With the potential of living in multiple locations, spouses may encounter multiple cultures, climates, high and low populated areas, fast and slow paced environments and more. Employees can benefit from the various perspectives spouses can offer to generate ideas, strategies and new practices.

• Stress Management

The military offers quite a few opportunities for stressful situations. If a service member is away, spouses may have to parent children alone, manage the finances, prepare for relocation, maintain the home and car and other duties. Spouses may develop skills as they endure emotional stressors in which they must learn to cope with anxiety and uncertainty.

Ways to Expand

Rather than look for a new job in new locations or give up jobs when circumstances involving children or other responsibilities change, military spouses can look for programs or work that is flexible and can travel.

• Volunteer

There are volunteer opportunities wherever you go. If you have the time to spare, you can volunteer and simultaneously develop resume material. You can apply leadership by coaching a team, guiding a scout troop or tutoring children. Other volunteer opportunities can expand more skills such as organization, time management and communication and written skills.

• Home-Based Business

If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit, you can develop managerial skills by starting your own business. Military spouses can turn their favorite hobby into a profitable business or utilize another virtual work-from-home job. Skills developed may include self-management, task management, networking, communication and more.

• Utilize Military Resources

The military offers opportunities for spouses to participate in educational courses that include computer technology, foreign languages, leadership, health and wellness, finances, relationships and more.

Photo thanks to The U. S. Army via Flickr Creative Commons