This piece is presented by MetaBank.

MetaBank was looking to solve a problem: how can we recruit and retain veterans? With an active military wind down, the country has more veterans in the workforce. A low unemployment rate in Sioux Falls means it can be difficult for Meta to compete for good talent. These two issues caused Meta to develop an employee group aimed at military members.

The MetaVet team at MetaBank kicked off their group in 2016.

In the fall of 2016, MetaBank formed an employee resource group called MetaVet. The primary role of the group is to support its military community by providing mentoring and career guidance. Additionally, the group was formed to:

• Inform and educate the executive team and human resources in how to best recruit and retain veterans and military service members and bridge the civilian/military gap.
• Sponsor events to support their community.
• Be available as a business resource, which may involve collaborating with other MEROs and teams to assist with a particular business objective.
• Offer mentorship to new employees adapting from a military to a civilian work structure.
• Provide assistance and support to Meta employees and their families who have served and do serve their country.

“We want Meta to be the employer of choice for veterans,” said Ian Stromberg, senior vice president of human resources and co-founder of MetaVet. “They have a skill set that we need in our business: leadership, strong work ethic and creative problem-solving.

“We also wanted to look at supporting our existing military population at Meta. Retention is a piece of it, but we were more invested because it’s the right thing to do for our employees. We understand that in order for them to be engaged at work, they need to know we support them.”

Meta announced military benefits for employees across the organization in July 2017. Military pay differential is being offered to eligible employees on active duty, active duty training or state active duty. Employees will be paid the difference between their regular salary and their military salary. Military paid time off is for activated reservists to be used before and after return from deployment. This benefit allows for two days of PTO to be given to employees with deployment of 21 to 180 days; five days of PTO will be given to employees with deployment of 180 days or more.

At Meta’s 2016 annual recognition celebration, the company honored 15 employees at the corporate office in Sioux Falls who served in an active campaign. Ten more were recognized for their military service. Recipients of both recognition programs received challenge coins and their names on a company plaque honoring military employees.

Meta’s military support extends from the corporate level to the manager level. Mark Lanners, database administration director, received recognition from the South Dakota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, for the extraordinary support of his employee, Sgt. Rory Kelley. Kelley, who serves in the Army National Guard, is a database administrator II.

“I’m grateful to Meta and Mark for their support of my duties in the Army National Guard,” Kelley said. “They’ve offered me flexible scheduling, time off for inspections and training time, and have allowed me to care for my military position as well as my family at home.”