Empowering our Military-Affiliated Employees: Unveiling the Military Spouse & Family Guide
A new and unique internal initiative is underway at Public Consulting Group (PCG) aimed at increasing engagement in organizational efforts to empower those in our community who are affiliated with the military, including military spouses, their families, and the people managers who supervise them. PCG’s Military Network (MilNet) Employee Resource Group (ERG) is leading the effort!
The MilNet ERG was formed to help foster an inclusive environment for military/veteran employees, provide support and encouragement, and connect PCG veterans, active-duty members, and military families with the interview process and mentoring new hires. As a part of this initiative, members of our MilNet ERG have developed a comprehensive guidebook—the Military Spouse & Family: Staff and Supervisor's Guide—to provide valuable insights and resources for military spouses and their families, as well as for managers supporting them within the workplace.
To gain deeper insights into the development and the unique impact of this guide, our Corporate Communications team had the privilege of connecting with several of the guide’s authors. These authors, who embody the guide as military spouses and members of the military network community, understand the unique challenges faced by military families. They shared the inspiration behind the guide, its key components, and the positive impact it aims to make within our organization and beyond.
Q: What kind of challenges does the Military Spouse and Family Guide help address for our military-affiliated employees and their families?
Porsche Tyson | Marketing Communication Specialist, Human Services: “I believe that this guidebook will provide clarity and improve communication between managers and employees whose lives are impacted by the military. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an effort that will impact PCG and military spouses throughout the company. Thank you PCG for supporting this resource.”
Q: In your experience, have you found other companies or organizations offering similar guidebooks tailored to supporting military-affiliated staff members and their managers, or is this initiative unique to PCG?
Len Tokar | MilNet ERG Chair, Manager, Associate Solutions, Human Services: "Our guide was written by military spouses, for military spouses, and most importantly for our hiring and people managers -- it cites factual information and dispels the stereotypes and myths about employing military spouses. I have socialized our Mil Spouse Handbook project with multiple businesses through our local Tech Council in Pennsylvania and the US Vets Conference in NYC this month. The nearly universal reaction is that businesses have not considered creating this type of guide and see the tremendous value in having one for their organizations."
Megan Gonzales | Client Services Associate, Education: “I found this project unique to PCG. Military resources and information can be overwhelming for anyone, even for those of us who live it. The Miliary Spouse & Family Guidebook provides a great starting place for that information that is beneficial to Military Spouses and people managers. I know from experience; it can be daunting to have to find and engage with appropriate resources that you may need as a Military Spouse. I am excited to have this resource as apart of PCG and am grateful to have been involved.”
Q: What encouraged you to become involved in efforts to support our military colleagues like the development of the Military Spouse and Family Guide?
Jenn Cunningham | Senior Consultant, Human Services: “I have been a military spouse for 13+ years. My husband is an active-duty Commander in the U.S. Navy and the current Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit. Being a military spouse is a challenging role filled with lots of pride, sacrifice, and significant challenges. I see up close the sacrifices and struggles that my family and friends make daily that most civilians never see.
I helped develop the Military Spouse and Family Guide to inform our people managers at PCG of the unique life circumstances and challenges that military affiliated people deal with on a day-to-day basis to expand our diversity, equity, and inclusion work at PCG. Military spouses are a cohort of people that face barriers to employment because of their spouses’ career; they are underrepresented in the workforce and are under-utilized across the country, yet they are also incredibly capable, skilled, problem solvers that possess a spectacular amount of flexibility and fortitude.
Growing our understanding of and providing supports to military spouses puts PCG in the position to tap into the under-utilized potential military spouses possess, strengthening our workforce, and it provides military spouses with career opportunities that acknowledge and provide the flexibility needed to support America’s military service men and women.”
Q: What are your hopes or aspirations for the impact of the "Military Spouse and Family Guidebook" on both individual workplaces and the broader landscape of support for military-affiliated personnel in the workforce?
Kimberly Magoon | Evaluation Supervisor, Human Services: “My spouse was active duty for the first 13 years we were together. I have started over several times in new jobs and places because of his career. It wasn’t easy or straightforward, but I also wouldn’t have changed a thing. This journey is common for military families. Milspouses are resilient, strong, and organized leaders. We are high performers who are dedicated to a mission and take pride in our work and families. I’m honored to have the chance to help educate supervisors and people leaders of PCG and our partners about what Milspouses can offer and what kind of support we need to succeed and create lasting careers.”
The launch of the Military Spouse & Family: Staff and Supervisor Guide by our MilNet ERG members marks a significant stride in our commitment to supporting military-affiliated colleagues and their families. This educational resource addresses unique challenges and offers valuable guidance for military spouses, their families, and their managers. As we continue to prioritize advancing a positive workplace culture at PCG, we're proud to highlight initiatives like this guide that foster a more supportive, and inclusive environment for all.
Are you interested in learning more about PCG and our Military Network employee culture? Explore our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and connect with our team to explore career opportunities and life at PCG on our career website here.