VETERANS DAY SALUTE: Well being First Hosts Employer Help of the Guard and Reserves Assertion of Help Signing Ceremony

Well being First reveals appreciation for the values, management and distinctive abilities service members convey to the workforce
Occasion additionally kicked off 9th yr of Well being First’s Vacation Playing cards for Service Members Marketing campaign.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County is house to tens of hundreds of U.S. Veterans – and hundreds extra present lively army members and their households.
Well being First, the most important healthcare supplier in Brevard County, and one of many largest employers within the area, is proud to associate with the Employer Help of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) group by becoming a member of their Assertion of Help program.
This program permits organizations, like Well being First, to indicate our appreciation for the values, management, and distinctive abilities service members convey to the workforce by publicly supporting their transition to civilian careers.
The Assertion of Help Program is the cornerstone of ESGR’s effort to achieve and keep employer help for the Guard and Reserve. The intent of this system is to extend employer help by encouraging employers to behave as advocates for worker participation within the army. Supportive employers are important to sustaining the power and readiness of the Nation’s Guard and Reserve models.
In opposition to the backdrop of flags representing all U.S. Armed Forces, Well being First hosted a Veterans Day signing ceremony at Holmes Regional Medical Middle. Along with Well being First and ESGR leaders, dozens of Well being First associates who’ve served our nation have been additionally in attendance.

ESGR, an official Division of Protection workplace, was established in 1972 to advertise cooperation and understanding between Reserve Element Service members and their civilian employers and to help within the decision of conflicts arising from an worker’s army dedication.
ESGR is supported by a community of practically 3,000 volunteers in 54 committees situated throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Volunteers, hailing from small enterprise and business, authorities, schooling, and prior army service convey an unlimited wealth of expertise to help in serving employers, Service members, and their households. Along with Headquarters ESGR workers and a small cadre of help workers for every State Committee, volunteers work to advertise and improve employer help for army service within the Guard and Reserve.
“This occasion launches our partnership with the ESGR group and reveals our outward help for our associates and their participation within the army. Right here at Well being First, we understand supportive employers are important to sustaining the power and readiness of our Nation’s Guard and Reserve models,” stated Well being First Chief Expertise Officer Paula Simply.
“We actually recognize the values, management, and distinctive abilities service members convey to the workforce and we all the time encourage alternatives to rent Guardsmen, Reservists, and veterans.”
U.S. Military Lt. Phil Albert, Chairman of the Employer Help of the Guard and Reserves group, right now joined Well being First to current the Assertion of Help, and he described a few of its values.
“Since its inception, lots of of hundreds of employers and managers have signed Statements of Help across the nation, pledging their help to Guard and Reserve workers,” stated Lt. Albert.
“Employers signing an announcement of help pledge that:
‘We absolutely acknowledge, honor, and adjust to the Uniformed Providers Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. We are going to present our managers and supervisors with the instruments they should successfully handle workers who serve within the Guard and Reserve. We recognize the values, management, and distinctive abilities Service members convey to the workforce and can encourage alternatives to rent Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans. And we’ll regularly acknowledge and help our nation’s Service members and their households, in peace, in crises, and in struggle.’”

Upon conclusion of the signing ceremony, Well being First kicked off its annual affiliate card-signing program sending thanks and inspiring needs to our service women and men presently serving around the globe. Now in its 9th yr, hundreds of Well being First associates yearly take part in what’s grow to be a practice main into the Thanksgiving vacation – with over 10,000 playing cards signed and delivered up to now.
Many associates are both Veterans themselves – or are a part of a army household. Through the two-week program, card signing stations are arrange at varied Well being First places throughout Brevard County, the place associates have the chance to put in writing a private message inside their playing cards.
Judy Steele is a 7-year affiliate with Well being First’s safety workforce, and served within the U.S. Air Drive from 1975-1979. She comes from a army household and now has a grandson serving in Texas. She says the extent of help and appreciation her employer, Well being First, reveals to its associates who now – and have served within the army – highlights why she loves coming to work every day.
“Well being First has been an outstanding pivotal level for veterans on this space (Brevard County). I wish to say a big majority of the people who work listed here are ex-military and a few are nonetheless active-duty reservists. I’m simply grateful to be part of this workforce – I believe this occasion – the ESGR signing and playing cards for our service women and men is improbable,” stated Steele.
“My oldest grandson is now in tech college at Lackland Air Drive Base in San Antonio, Texas. As a Veteran myself, this simply makes me really feel good.”
Michael Dones is a safety affiliate who has been with Well being First for practically 2 years, after spending practically 10 years in Minnesota within the safety subject. He served within the U.S. Air Drive for 20 years – from 1985-2005.
“The present of help by Well being First and our group actually makes me really feel good inside,” stated Dones. “Again after I served, it made us really feel particular when individuals again house cared and that they have been prepared to ship one thing to assist us bear in mind – and likewise to make us really feel that we made a distinction.”

