New effort to target remote work opportunities for military spouses
Washington, D.C. — As the leader in identifying and providing solutions to military spouse un- and under-employment, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes has launched a new initiative focused on remote work opportunities. The Remote Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone (MSEEZ) is a collective framework for businesses offering remote employment opportunities to military spouses. These businesses and community partners will work together to identify opportunities as well as barriers to entry for military spouses seeking employment via the hire, train and advocate pillars. First Lady Jill Biden, a military mother and grandmother and longtime military family advocate, kicked off this groundbreaking effort. “A recent study showed that 8 out of 10 military spouses said remote work was the ideal career situation. For families it means mom or dad doesn’t have to start over at each duty station and for employers remote work helps retain these workers, even if they are relocated,” said First Lady Jill Biden during Tuesday’s event. Since 2018, Hiring Our Heroes has launched more than 20 MSEEZ to combat the economic impact military spouse unemployment and underemployment have on the 21st-century military families by facilitating collaboration between local and national employers, educational institutions and community resources. “Remote and flexible work options, like telework, are actually a great way to do business especially with a population as resilient and adaptable as military spouses,” said Hollyanne Milley, the wife of Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Remote MSEEZ working group, includes Amy Uthe, Freedom Learning Group; Briana Pruitt, Instant Teams; Jenny Boyles, Freedom Makers; and Timothy Parlatore, Parlatore Law LLP. “We will leverage this working group to challenge employers to break the cycle of military spouse unemployment by hiring, training and advocating for flexible and remote career opportunities,” said working group chair Amy Uthe of Freedom Learning Group.
