The Updated Outlook on VA Debt

A number of brand-new developments might affect the employment of military service members and their households and employers' compliance commitments in 2026. Changes range from propositions to increase rewards for working with military spouses to improved work protections for service members while on duty. Military spouse job opportunity and assistance remain a focus for pending legislation.

, introduced earlier in 2025.

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Regular Movings Frequent movings continue to strain military families and can make it more difficult for employers to work with and keep military partners. Broadening the WOTC might create new rewards for employers to hire military partners and take advantage of this underutilized talent swimming pool. In addition, the Supporting Tours Across Years (STAY) Act (H.R. 6146), introduced in November 2025, seeks to limit relocations of active-duty servicemembers.

Optimizing VA Benefit Utilization in 2026

The U.S. Congress has not yet used up the STAY Act this year, however if it is ultimately enacted, it could result in decreased PCS relocations that could affect recruiting, retention, and remote-work policies for military partners. Military Re-Employment Protections Federal law currently offers civilian work leave securities for veterans and service members who are involuntarily or voluntarily deployed for military service.

In January 2025, Congress enacted the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Enhancement Act (Dole Act), that included arrangements impacting USERRA enforcement and remedies. The Dole Act strengthened anti-retaliation protections and permitted plaintiffs declaring USERRA offenses to seek minimum liquidated damages of $50,000 and attorneys' charges. Agencies and courts may continue to translate and use the Dole Act's USERRA-related provisions.

New Company Resources In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL/VETS) released a program for companies to seek guidance for making sure compliance. The Support and Assistance for Leaders in USERRA Training and Employment (SALUTE) program is an opportunity for employers to demand technical assistance on USERRA-related concerns or particular concerns in their labor force before the beginning of a DOL/VETS problem or claim.

Concern actions consist of examining USERRA compliance programs and training, updating military leave and reemployment policies, confirming health-benefit continuation procedures, and lining up hiring and tax-credit screening procedures to quickly catch brand-new rewards for military partners. Ogletree Deakins' new Armed force Labor force Practice Group brings together a group of attorneys, a number of whom are veterans or presently serving in the Reserves or National Guard, who frequently recommend on USERRA compliance, policy advancement, multistate application, and investigations and litigation.

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Comparing Top Benefit Paths for Families

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For 10 years, Hiring Our Heroes has actually championed military spouse employment, developing pathways to opportunity and driving systemic modification. As we celebrate this milestone, the 10th Yearly Military Spouse Employment Top will honor the legacy of development while charting a bold course for the future. This year's summit concentrates on Management & Legacy as we recognize the partners, employers, and advocates who have actually changed the work landscape and prepared the next generation to grow in a progressing workforce.

Together, we will build on a decade of service and success to develop a future where military partners lead with strength, vision, and function.

Military spouses face among the most consistent work gaps in the American workforce. According to data from the United States Department of Labor, military partner unemployment has hovered around 20% or higher recently. This far goes beyond the national average, which usually falls listed below 5%. An interview with Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships & Member Engagement at Armed Forces Mutual and a military spouse herself, shows how those difficulties play out in practice and how partners can navigate them more successfully.