Hard-working. Leadership skills. Team player. These are just a few qualities of military personnel and veterans. After years in the service, many veterans enter civilian life — and a new career — bringing with them a unique and valuable set of skills to the companies that employ them. Since 2003, Military Friendly has designated employers by measuring an organization's commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunities for the military community, including active duty, reserve and guard service members, veterans and military spouses. Its annual list of "Military Friendly Employers" identifies the "organizations whose commitment to serving the military and veteran community is comprehensive in scope and meaningful in terms of actual outcomes and impact." Allstate, one of this year's Military Friendly Employers, said in a statement: "Allstate has benefited from the work ethic and valuable experience of our country's veterans. Their exceptional leadership qualities make us stronger as a company. We're dedicated to guiding and advancing veterans' careers and are proud of our military and veteran recruitment programs. Companies that are not actively recruiting veterans are missing out on opportunities to hire skilled and talented employees," said Joseph Pennington, director of military programs. Discover the P&C insurance employers that earned a designation on the "2020 Military Friendly Employers" list in the slideshow above. 

What makes a company Military Friendly?

The program uses public data, proprietary data collected through the Military Friendly survey, and personal opinion data and feedback gathered from veterans in its assessment. Factors such as career opportunity & advancement; recruiting & sourcing; military employee policies and compliance; hiring & onboarding; and culture & commitment are evaluated. All data is then pushed through a pre-determined algorithm to determine the annual list, with results audited by Ernst & Young. Companies honored as "Military Friendly Employers" are also divided into four categories. The program describes these classifications as:

• Top 10: "... the guidon bearers for military/veteran programs and initiatives. They set the standard for other designations and are programs that continue to improve every year."
• Gold: "... an employer who scored within 10% of the 10th ranking employer in their category.  These employers are setting an example with their programs and initiatives."
• Silver: "... companies who meet the requirements and score within 20% of the 10th ranking Employer in their category. Only a select group of companies achieve this honor."
• Bronze: "... an employer who scored within 30% of the 10th best employer in their category. These employers have exceptional military/veteran programs and this award showcases their dedication."
• Designated "Military Friendly": "... awarded to companies who meet the requirements in the methodology section above. They are committed to being better for veterans and are an example to American companies."

To learn more about the program, visit Military Friendly's website. Related: 

• 6 P&C insurers in top 100 employers for vets in 2019
• Interstate Restoration raises $60,000 for homeless-vet nonprofit
• 6 P&C insurance companies among best employers for veterans in 2018