How to honor veterans at work
There are many ways you can thank veterans anywhere, especially on your team, such as:
1. Observe Veterans Day and Memorial Day
Since 1954, Americans have honored those who served in the military on November 11th, Veterans Day. If your company doesn’t already offer the holiday as a paid day off, consider adding it to your list of observed holidays. You could also offer floating holiday pay to employees who need to be in the office on Veterans Day.
Since 1968, Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May. More than a long weekend, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who sacrificed their lives for their country.
2. Recognize veterans personally
Simply saying “thank you” to veterans by name can be a powerful way to show appreciation. However, you can choose to celebrate in different ways, including by attending a Memorial Day service. In the office, you can work with employees who are veterans to create unique ways to recognize veterans, such as a wall of thank you messages.
3. Have an in-office celebration
Plan an in-office celebration for veterans in the workplace. Consider catering breakfast or lunch for veterans and their coworkers and start the event with a moment of silence to honor service members.
4. Allow space for team members to connect
Team members who have served in the military, spouses, and family members of those who have served may choose to share their experiences with each other. For example, an employee may want to create an internal resource group to connect with others who have served in the armed forces, as well as their spouses, family members and anyone who supports veterans. These groups can be formal or informal and can help educate others about how to support them as civilians and colleagues.
If you decide to incorporate this type of activity into your workplace, make sure it’s optional. Team members shouldn’t feel obligated to educate colleagues or share anything they feel uncomfortable talking about. It can be helpful to create a set of guidelines for any employee resource group or affinity group in partnership with your HR team to encourage inclusivity.
5. Fly flags
Show patriotism and honor veterans by flying the American flag outside your building. You may also want to display flags representing the flags of the military on a daily basis or on special occasions, such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
6. Host a lunch and learn
Set up a lunch and learn event focused on veterans. You could invite a Veteran resource group to host an educational session or invite a local veteran to address the team. Alternatively, you may decide to host a series of lunch and learn events only for veterans, bringing in professionals to speak about topics of interest, such as veterans benefits, leadership or coping with combat-related PTSD.
7. Run a charity drive
Collect money or goods for a nonprofit that serves veterans or military families. Consider adding an element of friendly competition by having different locations or departments compete against one another to see who can raise the most money or bring in the greatest number of donations. Award the winning team with a catered lunch, gift cards or another prize.
8. Volunteer as a team
Organize a group volunteer event serving veterans in your area. For example, you might volunteer to serve food to homeless veterans or perform maintenance or repairs on a local veteran’s home. If the volunteer event takes place during working hours, you may wish to provide participants with a paid day off.
9. Have a red poppy day
Initially a symbol of remembrance for soldiers killed in action during World War I, the red poppy now signifies the sacrifice of vets during all wars and conflicts. You can use the symbol as the foundation for a veterans appreciation day by distributing red poppy pins and asking all employees to wear them on a particular day. On the day, a member of your executive team can recognize fallen veterans and your veteran employees on a company-wide conference call or through email.
10. Sponsor local veteran events
Get involved with veterans organizations in your local community to show thanks to all vets in your area. Your organization can make financial contributions or sponsor special events throughout the year.
11. Hold a family event
Thank your veteran employees and their families with a special event, such as a picnic, barbecue or trip to a museum or an amusement park. Although you can hold such an event at any time of year, planning it to coincide with Military Spouses Appreciation Day, observed the Friday before Mother’s Day in May, can be especially meaningful.
Determining how to honor a veteran
There are many methods to consider when trying to determine how to honor veterans at work. To narrow down the options, consider the following steps.
1. Establish a budget
Before you begin weighing options, determine how much you can afford to spend on your veteran appreciation event or program. Coming up with a budget ensures you choose methods that will work for your organization.
2. Make it a team effort
Enlist the help of others in your organization when deciding how to honor a veteran or veterans at work. Create a planning committee that includes members of upper-level management, the direct supervisors of veterans and other employees. Getting a variety of viewpoints will help make your appreciation events and initiatives successful.
3. Practice inclusivity
When planning special events for veterans, strive for inclusivity. Be mindful of any disabilities or other challenges that the veterans on your team may have, and choose activities that everyone can participate in to the fullest. Involving veterans’ supervisors and coworkers in the decision-making process can ensure you plan inclusive events.
4. Seek feedback
Before you decide how to honor a veteran on your team or a group of veterans at your organization and plan an event or initiative, seek feedback. You may reach out to any existing veteran affinity, resource groups or ask veterans personally within your company for advice.
5. Integrate appreciation into your corporate culture
Encourage an ongoing culture of appreciation at work by showing appreciation in informal and formal ways. Coach supervisors to say thanks to their teams and recognize veterans and other employees on an ongoing basis through email blasts and verbal shout-outs. Launching a peer-to-peer recognition program that lets coworkers show appreciation to each other will also help make gratitude a core part of your workplace.
FAQs about honoring veterans
Who is considered to be a veteran?
In the United States, a veteran is anyone who has previously served as a reservist or active-duty service member in any branch of the military. Branches include the National Guard, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard and the Space Force.
How is honoring veterans at work beneficial?
Honoring veterans at work offers many benefits. Case studies show that veterans bring experience and desirable skills to the workplace and make valuable additions to teams. Showing appreciation can raise morale among veterans and the rest of your employees to increase retention and boost productivity. Taking the time to say thank you to vets can also lead to better employee engagement and aid in your military recruitment efforts.
What are significant dates for honoring vets?
Veterans Day, November 11th, is perhaps the most well-known holiday for honoring vets, but there are several others throughout the year. Here are some other days you may wish to recognize vets.
- Coast Guard Reserve Birthday: February 19th
- Navy Reserve Birthday: March 3rd
- Vietnam Veterans Day: March 29th
- Air Force Reserve Birthday: April 14th
- Army Reserve Birthday: April 23rd
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day: Friday before Mother’s Day
- Memorial Day: Fourth Monday of May
- D-Day Anniversary: June 6th
- Women Veterans Day: June 12th
- Flag Day and Army Birthday: June 14th
- National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day: July 27th
- Coast Guard Birthday: August 4th
- National Purple Heart Day: August 7th
- Patriot Day: September 11th
- Air Force Birthday: September 18th
- National POW/MIA Recognition Day: Third Friday in September
- Navy Birthday: October 13th
- Marine Corps Birthday: November 10th
- Space Force Birthday: December 20th
