WATCH YOUR TONGUE.

• Author: Berry, John
• Position: The Workplace - Veteran hiring and retention

"... There are a number of critical considerations business owners and managers must keep top-of-mind--and impart to their staffers--relative to what is considered inappropriate dialogue with a person who has served in the military."

ACCORDING TO the Department of Labor, the 3.4% veteran unemployment rate has been lower than the nonveteran unemployment rate (3.6%) for more than a year. There are an estimated 18,800,000 veterans living in the U.S. today, representing 7.6% of the country's population. This is a robust, trained and skilled employee pool that can make a significant impact on U.S. industry and, in turn, the global economy at large.

While the copious benefits of hiring military vets have been well-reported and it appears U.S. employers are taking heed, there are a number of critical considerations business owners and managers must keep top-of-mind--and impart to their staffers--relative to what is considered inappropriate dialogue with a person who has served in the military. There also are legal landmines to avoid when interviewing a veteran for any kind of employment opportunity, whether full or part time, contract, freelance, or any other.

You can improve your veteran hiring and retention by making small changes to your interview process. Our law firm, for instance, has filled the staff with veterans by following a few simple rules. Among them are a list of questions never to ask:

Do you have PTSD? First, in an interview situation, it is illegal to ask this mental health question before a job offer has been made under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and even after unless certain conditions are met. So, avoid this line of questioning (even after a hiring decision has been made) or risk exposing the company to legal repercussions.

Second, it is disrespectful. The veteran likely will think he or she is being stigmatized and labeled as "damaged goods" in some way or regarded as a stereotypical "unstable veteran," which will make it difficult to establish trust, a healthy rapport, and a sustainable professional relationship.

Have you ever killed anyone? Most veterans who served in combat do not want to discuss the details of their military service with a civilian, whether it be a boss or workplace counterpart. This question can be offensive, disconcerting, or generally uncomfortable to the veteran who did, in fact, have to take a life in the defense of his or her country--and can be equally objectionable for veterans who made...