November is Military Families Month, and at YellowWebMonkey, we’re taking this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for the incredible sacrifices made by military families across the nation. We believe in supporting those who serve, and that includes their families. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), an organization that connects veterans, service members, and military spouses with amazing employers.
At YellowWebMonkey, we’re not just military-friendly, we’re military-family-built! Everyone on our team is a military spouse, veteran or has a military family member. We understand firsthand the unique challenges and strengths that come with military life.
Understanding the Military Spouse Work Experience Gap
One of the biggest hurdles military spouses face is the employment gap often created by frequent moves and the unpredictable nature of military life. Packing up a home every few years and navigating new job markets can be incredibly disruptive. Here’s how these military spouse work experience gaps can impact military families:
Career Disruption: Each move often means leaving a job, disrupting career progression, and requiring a new job search in a new location.
Financial Insecurity: Inconsistent employment can lead to financial instability, making it harder to contribute to family goals and build long-term financial security.
Skill Degradation: Time away from the workforce can lead to skills becoming outdated, making it harder to re-enter the job market.
Loss of Confidence: Repeated job searches and career setbacks can take a toll on a spouse’s confidence and sense of self-worth.
Social Isolation: Constantly starting over in new communities can make it difficult to build lasting professional networks and support systems.
The 4+1 Commitment: A Pathway to Support
The military spouse work experience gap is a persistent concern within the military community and is a threat to military readiness and national security. To address these challenges, the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Blue Star Families, and Hiring Our Heroes created the 4+1 Commitment. This initiative encourages employers to adopt specific policies that support military spouse employment and help bridge the gap. Here’s the breakdown:
The 4 Core Policies:
Facilitate Job Transferability: This means having systems in place to help spouses transfer to similar positions within the company when they relocate.
Offer Remote or Telework Options: Providing remote work opportunities allows spouses to maintain their careers no matter where they’re stationed.
Offer Flexible Work Hours: Flexible schedules accommodate the unique demands of military life, allowing spouses to balance work and family responsibilities.
Provide Paid or Permissive PCS Leave: This helps spouses manage the logistics of a move and settle into a new community without added financial stress.
Going Above and Beyond: The “+1”
The “+1” encourages employers to go further by participating in existing government spouse employment programs, like the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), of which HOH is a proud partner.
YellowWebMonkey’s Dedication to Military Spouses
We’re incredibly proud to partner with Blue Star Families and Hiring Our Heroes, and we’ve enthusiastically embraced their 4+1 Commitment to support military spouse employment. But we’re not just meeting the minimum requirements – we’re exceeding them! At YellowWebMonkey, we offer all 4 core policies and actively participate in the “+1” by partnering with HOH Fellowships. Here’s how we’re putting that commitment into action:
Facilitate Job Transferability: We value transferable skills, like problem-solving, collaboration, and creative thinking – essential skills for a web design agency. These skills are transferable to various roles within our company and others, making it easier for you to continue your career growth.
Offer Remote or Telework Options: We offer remote work opportunities, allowing military spouses to maintain their careers and avoid the military spouse employment gap regardless of where their family may be stationed. Our flexible work model empowers our team to work from anywhere, making it especially beneficial for military spouses who frequently relocate. This enables them to continue contributing to their teams and advancing their careers, even during challenging moves.
Offer Flexible Work Hours: Recognizing the unpredictable nature of military life, we offer flexible work arrangements to accommodate the unique scheduling needs of military spouses.
Provide Paid or Permissive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Leave: We offer permissive PCS leave to help with the logistics of relocation, because we’ve been there!
Partnering with Hiring Our Heroes: We actively participate in HOH Fellowship programs, providing valuable work experience and often leading to permanent positions within our company.
Meet YellowWebMonkey’s Military Spouses
We’re incredibly proud of the talented military spouses on our team. They bring diverse perspectives, resilience, and a wealth of experience to YellowWebMonkey. Here are a few of their stories:
Corinne Walker, WordPress Lead: An Army veteran and Army spouse with 3 young children, Corinne says “The flexibility of my schedule while working with YellowWebMonkey has been invaluable for my family. We have moved cross-country three times, and I have had two additional children while working here. With each major change, I knew that I would be supported and able to adjust my schedule to adapt.”
Barbara Morton, Shopify Lead: A military spouse with 4 children, Barbara has been with us for over 4 years – the longest she’s ever been able to stay with one job with so many moves! Her spouse recently retired from the Army, and they’re enjoying their new chapter in Texas.
Cassandra Asante, WordPress Specialist: A Navy veteran and Navy spouse with 2 young children, Cassandra brings her valuable skills and experience to our team. She appreciates the team atmosphere and the ability to create a flexible weekly schedule that works for her family.
Audrey Talbot, Shopify Specialist: A Navy veteran and Navy spouse, Audrey recently welcomed her first child and is currently enjoying maternity leave. We look forward to her return!
Kelly Gillotti, WordPress Specialist/Content Writer: A Marine Corps spouse with 1 young child, Kelly enjoys the flexibility of working for YellowWebMonkey while homeschooling and traveling with her family.
Jewel Calderon, SEO/Marketing Lead: An Army spouse with 3 children, Jewel joined us through the HOH Fellowship program and has since transitioned to a permanent role. Jewel says, “after over 15 years as a military spouse and 5 PCS moves, I’m excited to finally have a meaningful career with an amazing company.”
Rocio Rodriguez Garcia, Shopify Specialist: An Air Force spouse and new mother to a 1-year-old, Rocio recently joined us through a HOH Fellowship. She appreciates the opportunity to transition from a demanding job to a flexible career path with YellowWebMonkey.
Celebrating Military Families: A Year-Round Commitment
This Military Families Month, we encourage you to join us in expressing gratitude for the service and sacrifices of military families. We’re deeply thankful for their contributions to our nation and committed to supporting them in any way we can.
YellowWebMonkey is a proud partner of Hiring Our Heroes and the 4+1 Commitment. We are committed to creating a workplace that is welcoming and inclusive for military spouses.
