Newswise — The fact that many veterans ultimately leave their initial post-military job is well known, but the reasons behind this attrition and the ways employers can best increase retention have yet to be quantified. In order to gather the necessary data, VetAdvisor® and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) today launched a nationwide Veterans Job Retention Survey.

The Veterans Job Retention Survey focuses on determining the reasons why veterans leave their initial post-military jobs. Because this data has not been previously captured, the survey will provide insight into how organizations can best structure their veteran-centric employee programs. All interested veterans and service members are encouraged to participate in the survey.

“Better understanding the causes for veteran attrition, and programs and policies that can improve retention, aligns with the mission of IVMF,” states James Schmeling, IVMF Managing Director and Co-Founder. “Our goal is to develop employment-focused programs in collaboration with industry, government, NGOs and the veteran community, to address the primary economic and public policy concerns of our nation’s servicemen and women such as employee retention and career development.”

The IVMF is committed to forging enduring partnerships with stakeholders like VetAdvisor® that are committed to supporting transitioning service members, veterans and their families. “We’re thrilled to partner with the IVMF in conducting this nationwide survey of veterans and employers,” says VetAdvisor® CEO Dan Frank. “Developing programs in support of veteran employees is crucial both for organizations interested in retaining the talent they have invested in recruiting, but also for enhancing the career development paths of veterans entering the workforce.”

The Veterans Retention Work Survey is part of a continuing effort by VetAdvisor® to develop programs to support veterans as they transition to civilian life. As part of its though leadership in the reintegration issues faced by veterans, VetAdvisor® partnered with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2012 to conduct the National Veteran Sleep Survey in order to better understand the underlying causes of and possible treatments for veteran sleep disorders.

The Veterans Job Retention Work Survey will be conducted online at www.retainingvets.org with a goal of recruiting 5,000 participants.

ABOUT VETADVISOR®

VetAdvisor® is the nation's expert in veteran-centric integrative care, providing proactive coaching services across behavioral health, wellness, financial, and all aspects of transition and career development. We also consult with corporate HR and management teams to teach organizations how to recruit, retain, and interface with military veterans and service members. For more information, visit www.myvetadvisor.com.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES (IVMF)

The IVMF is the first national center in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families post-service. Through our focus on veteran-facing programming, research and policy, employment and employer support, and community engagement, the institute provides in-depth analysis of the challenges facing the veteran community; best practices and serves as a forum to facilitate new partnerships and strong relationships between individuals and organizations committed to making a difference for veterans and military families. Learn more about IVMF at vets.syr.edu.